Canada's National Tower

Canada's National Tower: "

Canada's National Tower is the tallest tower and free-standing structure in the world, at 553.33 metres (1,815.39 feet). It is located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is considered the signature icon of the city (Geographic coordinates: 43° 38′ 33.24″ N, 79° 23′ 13.7″ W). The CN Tower attracts over 2 million visitors annually.


Construction on the CN Tower started on February 6, 1973 by Canadian National Railway who wanted to build a large TV and radio communication platform to service the Greater Toronto Area and also to demonstrate the levels, revolving restaurant, and giftshop. Key project team members were NCK Engineering as structural engineer; John Andrews Architects; Webb, Zerafa, Menkes, Housden Architects; Foundation Building Construction and Canron (Eastern Structural Division). The project proceeded 24 hours a day, five days a week for 40 months with 1,537 workers involved in the project, finally opening to the public on June 26, 1976. The structure's microwave receivers for distant signals are housed at 338 metres, and the top of the transmission antenna is at the apex of the tower. The construction costs of approximately $300 million CAD (today's equivalent) were repaid in fifteen years.

A metal staircase with 1,776 steps reaches the Sky Pod level (447 m; 147 stories) and is the tallest metal staircase on earth. These stairs are intended for emergency use and are not open to the public, except for twice a year for charity stairclimb events: around Earth Day in the spring by the World Wildlife Fund; and in the fall by the United Way's Toronto chapter. The average climber takes approximately 30 minutes to climb to the base of the radome (the white ring around the bottom of the main pod), but the fastest climb on record is 7 minutes 52 seconds.

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