The "White Tower" as a symbol of progressive construction thought

At the beginning of the last century, in the newly developing industrial area of Yekaterinburg, called Uralmash, the construction of an ordinary technical building was approached creatively. A competition was announced, the winner of which was M.V. Reisher, who proposed using reinforced concrete rather than traditional brick in construction. It turned out to be a very beautiful structure, light and unusual. Having become a kind of symbol of the neighborhood, the building received the popular name "White Tower".

This tower marked the beginning of the era of reinforced concrete in construction, demonstrating its capabilities. The height of the building is 29 meters. Four 20–meter-high reinforced concrete "leg" columns support a slab on which a huge 750 cubic meter water tank is installed. In 1931, when the water tower was commissioned, this tank was the largest in the world (only Chicago had a similar one, but 20 cubic meters less).

There is a legend that allegedly Reisher provided for only two "legs" in the project, but the commission did not believe in the strength of the structure and added two more. We already know what structures can be made from reinforced concrete, but back then this new material was not yet trusted.

It is not surprising that the image of the "White Tower" is inscribed in the logo of the forum of high-rise and unique construction, as an example of bold and talented technical thought, a masterpiece of constructivist architecture. And recently, her image was included in the symbolism of Builder's Day, a large–scale professional holiday that is held annually in Yekaterinburg on the first Saturday of August.

Source: "Amazing Yekaterinburg", chief editor Yu. Bril, ed. 2006.