Capital Tower, Cardiff facts for kids
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Capital Tower is a very tall building located in Cardiff, Wales. It stands about 270 feet (82 meters) high. For many years, Capital Tower was the tallest building in Wales. It is still a well-known landmark in the city of Cardiff.
Contents
History of Capital Tower
Building on Old Foundations
The land where Capital Tower was built has a long past. Its foundations were placed on the remains of a very old friary. This was a type of religious building from the 12th century. Much of the old friary was still standing until 1955. These old structures were completely cleared away to make room for the new tower.
Construction and Opening
Building work on Capital Tower began in 1967. It was finished on time in 1970. The total cost to build it was £1.5 million. The building officially opened on April 7, 1970. Sir Cennydd Traherne, the Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan, opened it. The tower was first known as Pearl Assurance House. This was because of the Pearl Assurance company.
Changes Over Time
For a long time, Capital Tower was the tallest building in Wales. But in 2009, a new building called The Tower in Swansea became taller. Capital Tower has about 190,000 square feet (17,650 square meters) of space inside. When it first opened, the lower floors had a job centre, a bookshop, and art galleries.
In 1998, these lower areas were updated. New cafe-bars were added. The car parks were also given a new look. At this time, the building got its current name, Capital Tower.
Ownership and Occupants
On November 25, 2002, Capital Tower was sold for £17.4 million. It was bought by the Raven Group. In August 2012, the building was sold again for £12.35 million to the Topland Group. In 2018, the tower was put up for sale once more. The asking price was £23.4 million.
Today, Capital Tower is home to many different offices. Companies like The Law Society, ranstad, AA, DevOpsGroup, Allianz, Yard, Admiral, and Dolmans have offices there.
Images for kids
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The main entrance to Capital Tower.
