Sun Tower
Encyclopedia
The Sun Tower is a 17 storey
82 m (269 ft) Beaux-Arts building at 100 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.
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
.
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.
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
82 m (269 ft) Beaux-Arts building at 100 West Pender Street in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is known for its faux-patina
Patina
Patina is a tarnish that forms on the surface of bronze and similar metals ; a sheen on wooden furniture produced by age, wear, and polishing; or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure...
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
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England by Gibbs and Canning Limited.
History
The Sun Tower was commissioned by L. D. TaylorL. D. Taylor
Louis Denison Taylor was elected the 14th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, he was elected seven times between 1910 and 1934, serving a total of 11 years....
to house his newspaper, The Vancouver World. It was designed by architect W. T. Whiteway
William Tuff Whiteway
William Tuff Whiteway was a Canadian architect best known for his work in the early 1900s in Vancouver, although he received commissions in various parts of the United States and Canada during his peripatetic career.-Biography:...
, who also designed the original Woodward's building
Woodward's building
The Woodward's building was a historic building in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The original portion of the building was constructed in 1903 for the Woodward's Department Store when that area of Cordova Street was the heart of Vancouver's retail shopping district. ...
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
Charles Marega
Charles Carlos Marega was a Canadian sculptor in the early 20th century.He was born in Lucinico, in the commune of Gorizia, then part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. He received training in plaster work in Mariano, Italy and then studied in Vienna and Zurich. In Zurich, he met Berta, who he...
.
When it was completed in 1912, it was called The World Building and was the tallest building in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
at 82 m (269 ft), surpassing the previous record-holder, the Dominion Building
Dominion Building
The Dominion Building , is a commercial building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located on the edge of Gastown , it was Vancouver's first steel-framed high-rise. At 53 m , the thirteen-storey, Second Empire style building was the tallest commercial building in the British Empire upon its...
located just around the corner. For two years, it was the tallest building in Canada until Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's 20-story Optima Business Centre opened in 1914. In 1918, droves of Vancouverites turned out to watch as Harry Gardiner
Harry Gardiner
Harry H. Gardiner , better known as the Human Fly, was an American man famous for climbing buildings. He began climbing in 1905, and successfully climbed over 700 buildings in Europe and North America, usually wearing ordinary street clothes and used no special equipment.- Climbs :Some of the...
, the "Human Fly", scaled the outside of the building. When The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
bought the building in 1937, it was renamed. Although The Sun newspaper has long since relocated, first to South Granville then to Granville Square
Granville Square
Granville Square is a prominent tower located at 200 Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District. Completed in 1973, it stands at 142 m or 30 storeys high, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city...
, the building has retained the name.
The exterior of The Sun Tower is used as the Watchtower in Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
. The tower has been digitally enhanced to look taller. In certain shots, the tower is the highest building in Metropolis.
Anchor tenants
- 1912-1917 The Vancouver World
- 1924-1937 Bekins Moving and Storage
- 1937-1965 The Vancouver SunThe Vancouver SunThe Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
- 1968-1996 Geological Survey of Canada
- 2001-2005 NavarikNavarikNavarik Corp. is a software service provider to the petroleum supply and trading industry. The Navarik Platform is a product that standardizes and processes trading and supply operational information...
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 . The new owners are promising to restore the heritage building.See also
- List of heritage buildings in Vancouver
- List of old Canadian buildings
- List of tallest buildings in Vancouver