OBSERVED
engineering
NIMBY
technology
Sculptural Appeal
A telecom giant courts public approval with artful,
technically innovative tower designs.
It’s a classic “not in my backyard” stumper: How can the
galloping global demand for cell-phone coverage be balanced
with the often strenuous public outcry against building another unsightly tower in the neighborhood? Ericsson’s new
Tower Tube turns the anti-aesthetic dominating tower design
today—call it the fake-tree school of camouflage—on its head.
“Our strategy was different: make [the tower] visible, but
make it look good,” says Peter Hjorth, an Ericsson engineer.
“This design just fits into public spaces better.” The cell-phone giant unveiled its first working prototype, jointly created by Ericsson engineers and Swedish architect Thomas
Sandell, last fall in Kista, Sweden. Not only is the Tower Tube
handsomer than most existing structures, it’s greener and
more cost-efficient, and it just plain works better. Hjorth
walks Metropolis through the key points of the design.
–Jude Stewart T
Stronger signal
Locating the Tower Tube’s base stations near the
top improves signal strength by reducing feeder
loss between the transmitter and the antenna.
Engineers connect the cables and antenna during
initial installation, then haul the whole package
via elevator to the top, where it remains. Stairs and
an indoor platform make high-wire repairs easy.
16-FT
SECTIONS
Designer Thomas Sandell created six different forms
for the Tower Tube.
The many virtues of concrete
Made from 16-foot concrete sections reinforced
with steel wires, the Tower Tube has modular
construction that is easier, cheaper, and greener
than that of traditional towers. With the inherent
insulation properties of concrete, transportation
efficiencies, and a dramatic reduction in steel use
(only one-tenth the amount used in traditional
designs), the Tower Tube reduces environmental
impact by as much as 40 percent. Concrete’s
malleability also makes it simple to customize
the appearance of the tower.
Natural energy-efficient cooling
The Tower Tube’s backup batteries naturally stay
cool underground, and the elevated base stations
use less heat-producing power to transmit the
signal upward the necessary 131 feet. In fact, temperatures within the structure stay low enough that
the tower is able to use natural air convection to
move warm air up and out.
A smaller footprint
Just 16 feet in diameter, the Tower Tube saves
space by locating the base stations toward the
tower’s top, versus their usual location at the
bottom. Enclosing everything behind concrete
walls also improves security.
