Nicholas
Tower
Nicholas Tower, the tallest building after the Twin
Towers in Trinidad and Tobago but presently the fifth tallest building is
located on Independence Square in Port-of-Spain on the original site of the
Trinidad Union Club. Issa Nicholas (father of Caribbean Airlines Chairman
George Nicholas III) owns this modern distinguished building.
The building type is referred to as “high rise building”,
the building material is mainly steel and the architectural style is described
as modernism. The building comprises of 24 stories, its facade is designed with
tinted glass windows and it has an elliptical floor plate. This modern
architectural building was built for commercial and corporate usage.
This building is representative of postmodern
architecture. Looking at this building creates a feeling that you’re standing
in an entirely modernized technological world. The blue colour is easy on the
eyes and sends a calm but important message that the country is progressing and
developing.
This structure
represents our journey as an independent country. The Twin Towers, once the
tallest structures now seem like regular buildings. This is such a change from
the colonial city to the post-colonial, independent city. The city can now be
proud and exclaim that this is a TRINBAGONIAN city and not colonial. The fight
for independence is won. No wonder that area is called Independence Square. Our
forefathers initially struggled to change the design of the urban skyline since
during their time; the largest structures which stood out were churches and
other colonial buildings. Finally,
our forefathers can rest peacefully knowing that our urban skyline is
completely an independent Trinbagonian one. Nicholas Tower encourages
nationalism and patriotism.
The financial
nature of Nicholas Tower proves that the area it is located in is most
certainly the Central Business District (CBD) since the CBD is essentially a
financial district. Griffin and Ford’s Urban Model explain that the CBD is an
area of much economic activity and employment, thus Independence Square will be
part of the CBD. The Nicholas Tower represents how well developed the CBD has
become since the Twin Tower establishment. This CBD represents that Trinidad
and Tobago was immune to the post-colonial poverty which usually affect
previous colonies. Trinidad and Tobago are on the verge of moving away from the
typical ex-colony development.
Unfortunately, further information on the architecture of
this structure wasn’t available.
References:
Abel Building Solutions. Accessed April 6, 2016. http://abel.co.tt/portfolio/nicholas-towers-trinidad/
Emporis. “Nicholas Tower.” Accessed April 6, 2016. http://www.emporis.com/buildings/184134/nicholas-tower-port-of-spain-trinidad-tobago
Emporis. “Trinidad and Tobago’s tallest buildings – Top
20.” Accessed April 6, 2016. http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/country/100169/trinidad-tobago
The Building Source.com. “Nicholas Tower, Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad.” Accessed April 6, 2016. http://www.thebuildingsource.com/home/projectdetails/682
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