Shalom Meir tower
Encyclopedia
Shalom Meir Tower is an office tower in Tel Aviv
which contains a small commercial center. The Shalom Mayer Tower was the first tall tower to be built in Israel
. When its construction was completed in 1965, it rivaled the tallest buildings in Europe
in height, and was the tallest in the Middle East
.
The tower has 34 floors and stands at a height of 120–130 m. In its design, space under the tower was set aside for a future subway
station. However, a subway has yet to be constructed in Tel Aviv and with the tower's importance being eclipsed by newer and taller structures in the city, even the Tel Aviv Light Rail lines now planned are not expected to pass under the tower.
The tower is located on the site of the Herzliya Hebrew High School
. The school's architecturally and historically significant structure was razed and the school relocated in order to build the tower in 1962. This decision was later widely regretted despite the many benefits that the tower brought over the years.
50,000 cubic meters of concrete, 4,000 tons of steel, 35 kilometers of water pipes, and 500 kilometres of wiring were used in the tower. The building has a cream hue tile facade which was created especially for the tower and was manufactured in Italy. The retail promenade includes a huge mosaic mural wall by noted Israeli artist Nachum Gutman.
The building was partially renovated in 2003–04. As part of the renovation, the top three floors were converted into 14 residential apartments, Tel Aviv's largest bar-restaurant, which accommodates more than 200 people at a time, is placed at the ground level, and the tower's maintenance costs were reduced by 20% by reducing the number of employees in the tower's operating staff.
In November 2010, some of the tower's top floors caught fire, and four people sustained minor injuries.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
which contains a small commercial center. The Shalom Mayer Tower was the first tall tower to be built in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. When its construction was completed in 1965, it rivaled the tallest buildings in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in height, and was the tallest in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
The tower has 34 floors and stands at a height of 120–130 m. In its design, space under the tower was set aside for a future subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
station. However, a subway has yet to be constructed in Tel Aviv and with the tower's importance being eclipsed by newer and taller structures in the city, even the Tel Aviv Light Rail lines now planned are not expected to pass under the tower.
The tower is located on the site of the Herzliya Hebrew High School
Herzliya Hebrew High School
The Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium , originally known as HaGymnasia HaIvrit is a historic high school in Tel Aviv, Israel.-History:...
. The school's architecturally and historically significant structure was razed and the school relocated in order to build the tower in 1962. This decision was later widely regretted despite the many benefits that the tower brought over the years.
50,000 cubic meters of concrete, 4,000 tons of steel, 35 kilometers of water pipes, and 500 kilometres of wiring were used in the tower. The building has a cream hue tile facade which was created especially for the tower and was manufactured in Italy. The retail promenade includes a huge mosaic mural wall by noted Israeli artist Nachum Gutman.
The building was partially renovated in 2003–04. As part of the renovation, the top three floors were converted into 14 residential apartments, Tel Aviv's largest bar-restaurant, which accommodates more than 200 people at a time, is placed at the ground level, and the tower's maintenance costs were reduced by 20% by reducing the number of employees in the tower's operating staff.
In November 2010, some of the tower's top floors caught fire, and four people sustained minor injuries.