Location: Toronto, Canada
Construction Type: Concrete
Architect: John Andrews Architects with WZMH Architects
Year: 1976
Height: 553.3 meters / 1,815 feet
About the CN Tower
The CN Tower was built by the Canadian National Railway to provide a major TV and radio communication system for Toronto, Canada. Ownership of the tower was transferred to Canada Lands Company, a real estate development corporation, in 1995. The name
CN Tower now stands for
Canada's National Tower instead of
Canadian National Tower. However, most people simply use the abbreviation, CN Tower.
At the center of the CN Tower is a hollow, hexagon-shaped concrete pillar with electrical lines, plumbing, stairwells, and six elevators. At the peak is a 102-metre (334.6 ft) tall antenna that broadcasts TV and radio signals.
The main support pillar for the CN Tower was constructed by hydraulically raising a large metal platform from the base. A helicopter erected the antenna in 36 sections.
For many years, the CN Tower ranked as the world's tallest tower. However, the Tokyo Sky Tree in Japan is now taller, measuring 625 meters (1,998 feet). Also outranking the CN Tower is the Canton Tower in China, measuring 600 meters (1,968.5 ft).
