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Portsmouth's Emirates Spinnaker Tower has an innovative new makeover

news

17th October 2016

The Emirates Spinnaker Tower has had a makeover, but not a regular makeover. The tower has been coated with an innovative anti-carbonation paint, developed by Flexcrete.

Why is this special? It’s the first paint of its type in the world.

Flexcrete developed an anti-carbonation coating to cover the gold section of the tower, which is the corporate colour of Emirates. The decision was taken to paint the tower in blue and white in preparation for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup.

When the blue and white colouring had been applied, by The Abseilers Limited, the decision was taken to create a striking appearance by adding Emirates Gold. This meant that the company, Flexcreate, had to develop a protective coating to cover the gold paint.

The original blue and white coatings were applied with Flexcreate’s Monodex Smooth product which has a proven history of being used in unwelcoming conditions around the world.

The paint can endure the movement of the Tower in high winds, retaining structural integrity as the Tower flexes, sometimes over 100mm.

Portsmouth City Council and Emirates Airline have a five-year partnership and the new coating was applied as part of a £3.5M renovation. The tower acquired sponsorship for the America’s Cup sailing event in summer 2015, which was the first time the tower had been sponsored in the ten years it has been standing.

In 2005 the Emirates Spinnaker Tower was created as the focus of the regeneration of the Portsmouth Harbour Project. It stands at 170 metres and is visible from more than 20 miles, rivalling the London Eye with its height.

The standout design, created by HGP Architects, echoes the seafaring legacy of the local city and boasts panoramic views across the southern seaboard.

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