| The Tower, Meridian Quay | |
| Cost: | £40m |
| Location: | Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Address: | Meridian Quay, Maritime Quarter, Swansea |
| Start Date: | 2006 |
| Completion Date: | 2009 |
| Height: | 107 m (351 ft) |
| Floor Count: | 29 |
| Main Contractor: | Carillion |
| Architect: | Latitude Architects |
| Structural Engineer: | Atkins Ltd |
| Services Engineer: | Atkins Ltd |
| Civil Engineer: | Atkins Ltd |
The Tower, Meridian Quay is a residential tower in Swansea, Wales. It is the tallest building in Wales. Standing at 107 m (351 ft), Meridian Quay is the only skyscraper in Wales (buildings over 100 m tall) and one of several high-rises in Swansea.[1]
Initially known as Ferrara Tower, it was part of the £50 million Meridian Quay housing and office development project.[2] A planning application for the £40million building was approved in 2003[3] and construction work began in 2006.[4] On 26 January 2008, one of the construction workers died after falling three storeys from the tower.[5] The construction company, Carillion, chose not to release his name. A fire broke out on the 20th floor of the tower in April 2008 and took 45 minutes to extinguish.[4] The tower was "topped-out" to its full height on 12 September 2008.
The tower has 29 storeys, double the number of the previous tallest building in Swansea, the BT Tower. Most of the tower houses residential apartments. The ground floor has a concierge desk which is staffed 24 hours a day, whilst the top three floors form the Grape and Olive restaurant run by the Brains Brewery.[6] This was opened following the unsuccessful 290 cover Penthouse restaurant. In 2008, it was reported that the penthouse apartment on the 26th floor was sold for £1 million.[7]