Capital Tower, Cardiff

Capital Tower

Capital Tower located in Cardiff, Wales was the tallest structure in Wales until 12th Sept 2008 when Meridian Quay in Swansea was topped out. Standing at 80 metres (262 ft) to roof height, Capital Tower is slightly taller than Stadium House, which stands at 78 metres to roof height, though inclusion of the antenna gives Stadium House a pinnacle height of 120 metres.

Capital Tower was completed in 1967 and originally known as Pearl House. The 125,000 sq ft (11,600 m²) tower was bought on 25 November 2002 for £17.4 million by Aberdeen Property Investors from the Raven Group. The tower houses several key clients including Admiral Insurance and regional government bodies. A job centre, bookshop and galleries were built on the lower floors, but in 1998, they were replaced by a new set of developments including café-bars, and the car parks were re-clad. At this time the building received its current name - Capital Tower.

The Tower was built on the ruins of a 12th century friary. Much of the building still stood in 1955. It was cleared for the Capital Tower to be constructed. It is most probable that under modern planning restrictions this would not have been allowed.

There was a proposal for an even taller tower in Wales at Bay Pointe in Cardiff Bay; however, in December 2008 the Western Mail reported that this was unlikely to ever be built. The Mayor of Cardiff said the way forward for Cardiff is upwards to give it a more major 'international-city feeling'.^{[citation needed]}