Located
in the heart of downtown Toronto, on the
corners of Queen Street and University
Street, it a building known locally as
the “weather building”. While
not the largest or tallest building in
the city, the Canada Life Building recently
celebrated its 70th anniversary. Built
in 1931, this building is known to Torontonians
as a giant neon thermometer, and at night
can easily be seen from all over parts
of the metropolitan area.
Known to the technicians as a “forecasting
fixture”, the Canada Life Building
was given a strange addition in 1951.
The top of the main tower has a “beacon
tower” that stands 321 feet (98
meters) above street level.
This
electric tower can flash in various patterns;
this gives colour-coded translations of
weather information to provide onlookers
with “at a glance” information
about the weather. The information is
updated four times daily, seven days a
week, by Environment Canada's Weather
Centre at Pearson International Airport.
The tower stands high enough that even
ships out on the lake can tell of the
temperature is going up or down. The entire
building itself was given a 20 million
dollar restoration in 1996, and has become
a much-loved fixture for the downtown
crowed. Of course those who go outside
can tell how cold it is, but a little
warning never hurts.
Canda
Life Building Travel Links |
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