Toronto Magazine - Premier 2008 - (Page 29) Designated as one of the “seven wonders of the modern world” by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1995, the CN Tower remains a local tribute to architectural ingenuity and human achievement. Yet, as new tall buildings all over the world are finally posing a challenge, the Tower remains the flagpole upon which an entire country hangs its flag. By Margaret Swaine Photos (this page) Jean Heguy/FirstLight; (next page) courtesy of CN Tower t he Eiffel Tower of Paris, the Tower of London and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. So strongly linked to their locales are these iconic structures that their images instantly evoke the emotion and beauty of their respective cities. So it is with the CN Tower, an omnipotent architectural wonder that dominates almost every photo of Toronto and serves as a beacon to the downtown core for the entire region. When the CN Tower celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006, it still proudly held its title of “the world’s tallest free-standing structure,” at 553.33 metres (1,815 feet), and even as the Burj Dubai takes that honour upon its completion in 2008, the CN Tower will retain the record for the world’s highest observation level. On a clear day, the Sky Pod — at 447 metres (1,465 feet) — affords a 160-kilometre (100-mile) panoramic view of Toronto, Lake Ontario and beyond to Niagara Falls. Yet, as this manmade wonder continues to hold its place as Canada’s most recognizable icon, little can overshadow the architectural folklore attached to the actual construction of the Tower — a brave endeavour that remains a modern model of engineering — and a cultural backbone that has held the region steady.
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