The CN Tower

Is the CN Tower the tallest building in the world?
Yes, it is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Tallest Building. The Tower holds a number of other world records including World's Longest Metal Staircase and World's Highest Wine Cellar. In 1995, the CN Tower was classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

How tall is the Tower?
The CN Tower is 553.33 m (1,815 ft, 5 inches) tall or the equivalent of 5 1/2 football fields stacked end-to-end.

Who owns the CN Tower?
Canadian National (CN) built the Tower in 1976 and retained ownership until 1995 when it became a public company. At that point, ownership of the Tower was transferred to Canada Lands Company, along with a number of other real estate properties. The CN Tower cannot be sold and is currently leased for forty years with possible extension for 30 years, to TrizecHahn Corporation, one of North America's largest real estate companies.

How much did it cost to build?
The original cost was $63 million, (about $300 million in today's figures).

How long did it take to build the Tower?
It took approximately 40 months to complete the CN Tower. Construction started on February 6, 1973 and wrapped up in June of 1976. In the same spirit, the CN Tower's $26 million expansion, opened on June 26, 1998 took only 9 months to complete.

How much does the Tower weigh?
130,000 tons (117,910 metric tonnes) equal to the weight of 23,214 large elephants.

How many people did it take to build the CN Tower?
1,537 courageous workers toiled around the clock, five days a week, 24-hours a day, to build the CN Tower.

Does the Tower sway in high winds?
Like all tall, narrow buildings, the Tower sways a little. Here is the wind resistance of various parts of the Tower in winds of 120 mph, with 200 mph gusts:

• Antenna: 6 ft., 8 in. from centre
• Sky Pod: 3 ft., 4 in. from centre
• Tower Sphere: 1 ft., 7 in. from centre

Is the Glass Floor safe?
The Glass Floor has been specifically designed for the CN Tower. It is 256 square feet of solid glass that is five times stronger than the required weight bearing standard for commercial floors. It could actually withstand the weight of 14 large hippos.

How many elevators are there in the CN Tower?
There are now six glass-fronted, high-speed elevators. They travel at a rate of 22 km/hour (15 miles/hour). It takes only 58 seconds to reach to Look Out Level at 346 m (1,136 ft). A separate elevator whisks guests up another 33 storeys to the Sky Pod level for a full 360 degree unobstructed view.

How much concrete is in the Tower?
53,000 cubic yards (40,523.8 cubic metres) or enough to build a sidewalk from Toronto to Kingston.

How many people visit the CN Tower each year?
Each year, almost 2 million people take advantage of  all the Tower has to offer.

When did the Tower add the base expansion?
On June 26, 1998, the CN Tower officiallly opened a new $26 million entertainment expansion and revitalization featuring all new multimedia displays, motion simulator rides, films, themed arcade, shopping and food experiences. The expansion, as well as revitalization of interiors from bottom to top represents a total of approximately 75,000 square feet of new and renovated spaces and offers a broader range of entertainment appealing to guests of all ages.

Who were the Architects and Engineers during the building of the CN Tower?
Listed are the architecture and engineering credit. For full Tower credits, click here.

Broadcasting Engineering and Security Systems
Elder Engineering Ltd. – King City