Sun Tower
| The Sun Tower | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names | The World Building |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location |
128 West Pender Street Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°16′52″N 123°06′30″W / 49.2810°N 123.1084°WCoordinates: 49°16′52″N 123°06′30″W / 49.2810°N 123.1084°W |
| Construction started | 1911 |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 82.34 m (270.1 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 6,357 m2 (68,430 sq ft) |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Tuff Whiteway |
| References | |
| [1][2][3] | |
The Sun Tower is a 17 storey 82 m (269 ft) Beaux-Arts building at 128 West Pender Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is known for its faux-patina steel dome painted to imitate copper cladding. Nine nude muses, the "nine maidens" supporting the cornice line can be seen. The terracotta for this building, including the ladies, was made in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England by Gibbs and Canning Limited.
History
The Sun Tower was commissioned by L. D. Taylor to house his newspaper, The Vancouver World. It was designed by architect W. T. Whiteway, who also designed the original Woodward's building nearby. The intention was that the building would be visible throughout the World's circulation area as the tallest building in the city. John Coughland and Sons of Vancouver had 1,250 tons of steel fabricated for construction.
It is adorned with nine stone sculpted Caryatids, made by Charles Marega.[citation needed]
When it was completed in 1912, it was called The World Building and was the tallest building in the British Empire at 82 m (269 ft), surpassing the previous record-holder, the Dominion Building located just around the corner. For two years, it was the tallest building in Canada until Toronto's 20-story Optima Business Centre opened in 1914. In 1918, droves of Vancouverites turned out to watch as Harry Gardiner, the "Human Fly", scaled the outside of the building. When The Vancouver Sun bought the building in 1937, it was renamed. Although The Sun newspaper has long since relocated, first to South Granville then to Granville Square, the building has retained the name.
The exterior of The Sun Tower is used as the Watchtower in Smallville. The tower has been digitally enhanced to look taller. In certain shots, the tower is the highest building in Metropolis.
Formerly 100 West Pender St, the City of Vancouver renumbered the street address of the Sun Tower to 128 West Pender in 2011 in accordance with its strict street numbering bylaw when a new building was constructed on the vacant lot at the south west corner of West Pender and Abbott Streets.
Anchor tenants
- 1912-1917 The Vancouver World
- 1924-1937 Bekins Moving and Storage
- 1937-1965 The Vancouver Sun
- 1968-1996 Geological Survey of Canada
- 2001-2005 Navarik
- 2009 - present Victory Square Law Office LLP
Future
It was announced on March 19, 2008 that The Sun Tower had been sold to new owners on March 17. The purchase price was not announced, but the building had a 2008 assessed value of CAD 6.16 million. The new owners are promising to restore the heritage building.[4]
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Dome Detail
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Cornice Detail
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See also
- List of heritage buildings in Vancouver
- List of old Canadian buildings
- List of tallest buildings in Vancouver
References
- ↑ Sun Tower at Emporis
- ↑ Sun Tower at Glass Steel and Stone
- ↑ Sun Tower at SkyscraperPage
- ↑ Derrick Penner (March 19, 2008). "New owners promise Sun Tower restoration". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
External links
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