Capital Tower, Cardiff facts for kids
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Capital Tower is a very tall building in Cardiff, Wales. It was first known as Pearl Assurance House. This impressive tower stands about 270 feet (82 meters) high to its roof. This makes it a bit taller than another building nearby called Stadium House.
Contents
The Story of Capital Tower
Capital Tower has an interesting past, built on old foundations and changing over the years.
Building on History
Before Capital Tower was built, its foundations were laid on the remains of a very old friary. A friary is a type of religious building where monks or friars lived. This friary dated back to the 12th century! Much of it was still standing until 1955. These old ruins were completely cleared away to make space for the new tower.
How Capital Tower Was Built
Construction of the tower began in 1967. It was finished right on time in 1970, costing about £1.5 million. A special ceremony officially opened the building on April 7, 1970. It was first called Pearl Assurance House, named after the company that owned it.
Once the Tallest Building
For many years, Capital Tower was the tallest building in all of Wales! It held this title until 2009. That's when The Tower, Meridian Quay in Swansea was completed, becoming even taller.
What's Inside Capital Tower?
The building offers a huge amount of space, about 190,000 square feet (17,650 square meters). When it first opened, the lower floors had a jobcentre, a bookshop, and art galleries. But in 1998, these were changed. New cafes and bars were added, and the car parks were updated. At this time, the building also got its current name, Capital Tower.
Who Has Owned Capital Tower?
Buildings like Capital Tower are often bought and sold. In 2002, the tower was sold for £17.4 million. Later, in 2012, it was sold again for £12.35 million to a group called Topland. In 2018, the building was available for sale once more, with an asking price of £23.4 million.
Today, Capital Tower is home to many different offices. Companies like The Law Society, randstad, AA, DevOpsGroup, Allianz, Yard, Admiral, and Dolmans have offices there.
See also
In Spanish: Capital Tower (Cardiff) para niños
