Beetham Tower architect Ian Simpson has apologised after the Manchester skyscraper kept city centre residents awake by humming in the wind.
A noise nuisance probe has been launched at the 47-storey building by environmental health officers after a string of complaints about the din.
Residents in areas ranging from Miles Platting to Chorlton said the sound of the low hum emitted by the glass blade at the building had disturbed their sleep.
The building vibrated noisily in the wind on Monday night and again on Wednesday night as winds gusting to over 90 miles per hour were recorded across Greater Manchester.
Mr Simpson, who lives in an apartment on the top floor of the 168m (551 ft) tower, the tallest residential building in Europe, said that he had heard the noise himself and pledged to take action.
He explained that the noise is created by wind passing over glass fins on the blade at the top of the tower. The blade was added to the building for design reasons and does not have a practical purpose.
This video was posted on Youtube by user PartialS
“It’s like wind blowing over a leaf”, Mr Simpson said. “We are working with acoustic specialists to determine a new way forward. We don’t need to remove the whole of the blade. We might remove the glass.
“I am completely aware of the noise because I live at the top of the building. I would like to apologise for that and we are looking to address it so that next year we don’t have the same problem.”
He added: “At the end of the day it’s not supposed to make noise. We have got to address it because it’s causing distress.”
He warned that the noise may continue through January if there is more stormy weather ahead.
City Centre councillor Kevin Peel contacted Environmental Health officials yesterday after receiving dozens of complaints.
Mr Peel said: “Environmental health has a duty to respond to this because it’s a noise nuisance.
“It [the blade] doesn’t serve any logical purpose and it’s disturbing the residents. I think they should take the damn thing off.”
City centre chief, coun Pat Karney, was also among those disturbed by the din.
He said: "Hundreds of city centre residents were kept up til the early hours with this singing Beetham Tower for the second time this week.
"I live in the Northern Quarter and it was the first time I could hear it really loudly, til about 1.30am. It's a really ghostly unsettling sound and we've had emails into the council from residents all over the city centre, particularly on Liverpool Road.
“We recognise it was exceptionally windy conditions but we need to look again at this problem and see if there's anything we can do and I will be calling an urgent meeting with the owners of Beetham Tower and the architect."
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City center spokesman Pat Karney lives in the northern quarter? How is he representing the people in Harpurhey who actually voted him in? And like the council is going to do anything to Ian Simpson; their favourite architect.
Let's hope it doesn't require an imaginative solution because you've got no chance with that clown.
Sounds like this story should be in the same filing cabinet as B of the Bang! The glass blade (what was he thinking?) needs to come off completely, not have money thrown at it trying to silence it. Even school children know that wind blows in all directions, so one solution may cause another problem and so, mo' money, mo' money!! And I would assume the blade is for artistic architectural purposes? Can anyone confirm this? If so, yuck. I would have much preferred the B of the Bang up there instead. Now that WOULD have looked artistic!
Looks like the Blade will be doing a Runner.
I'll bet Pat Karney couldn't belive his luck - something like this to deflect attention for him and the new year Celebrations debacle.....
Simpson ay.
not a very good archetect if he doesnt look into every scenario!!!
I would like to apologise for that and we are looking to address it so that next year we don’t have the same problem.
Next year? Priority job then?
'I Love Manchester' should be producing branded earplugs and handing them out to city centre residents.
Tongue in cheek but reflective of Manchester humour.
"the towers buzzin" "cheers mate"
Architect ?? The thing could of been draw by a 5 year-old. Then using standard high rise build methods by mostly bolting a pile of steel together.(meccano) Also, I do not think an acoustic expert can do much. Funny thing about wind is, it comes from all directions. So, unless the thing turns, it will always make some noise.
Best thing to do is cut it down, at about pavement level.
Are you also sorry for it's poor design and general lack of aesthetic appeal?
Is it really called the Beetham Tower?>
Why not attach some panpipes all the way along the blade, then they'd really have something to moan about.
I like the noise. My nephew thought it was aliens. :)
Maybe he could attach a set of blades to the CIS and Arndale buildings set for different frequencies this would produce a Chord for Manchester.
I think a trick has been missed here - MUSICAL ARCHITECTURE
Maybe he could attach a set of blades to the CIS and Arndale buildings set for different frequencies this would produce the Manchester Chord. I think a trick is being missed here - MUSICAL ARCHITECTURE
Maybe he could attach a set of blades to the CIS and Arndale buildings set for different frequencies this would produce the Manchester Chord. I think we are missing a trick here - MUSICAL ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHORDS
if i was making such a racket, how long before the council came around to take whatever was making the noise away?
can 't someone sue him for keeping them awake at night?
"it's not supposed to make noise" he says. It's been making noise since day 1 and everyone knows it. I think it was mitigated to the point that the wind now has to be stronger, but acting like it is a new and unforseen problem would be very misleading.
But there's worse: "It's a design feature". As I understand it, it is a VANITY feature, only there for the egos concerned to get it as the tallest residential building in the country.
It isn't needed. It should go. If it wasn't connected to council corporate ego, a similar noise disturbance would most certainly be dealt with less sympathetically.
What a horrible looking building, do you have to study to have somthong like this built. Looks like its out of a movie when the world ends.
He could have at least planned it better so it played a tune!
it might bring people from all round the world to listen to the howling tower!
Thank you for disturbing Mr Karney, it was the best bit of the windy weather.Surely if the glass blades are only decoration then why do they need an acoustic specialist to tell them what to do? How about remove the glass? Thank you I will send the bill for my fee later
Well I am certainly glad to hear something is going to be done as sleepless nights because of severe weather conditions is not the one.
I live just near the roundabout Regent Road exit and was awoken from my unconsciousness by a sound that sounded like something from a horror movie (sorry thats the only way I can describe it)!!!! Had I not realised what it was it would of been a case of getting the Ghostbusters out the next morning LoL.....
On a serious note though something has to be done and hope it is sooner rather than later...