Sun Tower
The Sun Tower is a Beaux-Arts building at 128 West Pender Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The building is known for its faux-patina steel dome painted to imitate copper cladding.[4]
| Sun Tower | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names | 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) |
| Elevators | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Tuff Whiteway |
| References | |
| [1][2][3] | |
The building was commissioned by L. D. Taylor to house his newspaper, The Vancouver World. It was designed by W. T. Whiteway, who was also the designer for the original Woodward's building nearby.[4] After the building was finished in 1912, it was called The World Building. It became the tallest building in the British Empire at 82 m (269 ft).[4] It surpassed the former record-holder, the Dominion Building which is located just around the corner. It was also the tallest building in Canada for two years until Toronto's 20-story Optima Business Centre opened in 1914 and surpassed it.[4] In 1918, many Vancouverites turned out to watch Harry Gardiner, the "Human Fly", scale the outside of the building.[5]
The building was bought by The Vancouver Sun in 1937 and was it was renamed. Although The Vancouver Sun newspaper had long since moved, first to South Granville then to Granville Square, the building has kept the name.[4] The outside of the building was used as the Watchtower in Smallville. The tower had to be digitally enhanced to look taller. In some of the shots, the tower is the highest building in Metropolis.[6] The building was also used as Chance's and Winston's office in the television show Human Target.[7]
On March 19, 2008, it was announced that Sun Capital had bought the building on March 17. After they bought it, they overhauled the fabric and interiors of the building. In turn, the building was sold to the current owners Allied Properties REIT in August 2011.[8] The heritage building is promised to be restored by the new owners.[9]
Sun Tower Media
Detail of the "copper" dome (actually green paint) on the Sun Tower in Vancouver. Photographed by Zhatt on June 28, 2005
Detail of the muses and cornice on the Sun Tower in Vancouver. Photographed by Zhatt on June 28, 2005
Neon 'Sun' sign and beacon at night (1946)
Sun Tower, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sun Tower, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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References
- ↑ Sun Tower at Emporis
- ↑ Sun Tower at Glass Steel and Stone
- ↑ "Sun Tower". SkyscraperPage.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Sun Tower". Emporis. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ↑ "Immense throng witnesses "Human Fly" scale Tower building in front of Sun offices". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ↑ "Vancouver has a starring role in film". The Sun Tower. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ↑ "Human Target Filming Locations". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ↑ "Towering Over An Empire". The Sun Tower. Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ↑ "New owners promise Sun Tower restoration". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
Other websites
- Official website Archived 2014-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
- Emporis.com - Sun Tower
- SkycraperPage.com – Sun Tower
