Cart
0
The CN Tower, one of the most famous landmarks on Toronto’s skyline, has been undergoing renovations to its observation decks and now the first stages of the process have been completed.
One of the aims of the renovation is to expand the usable floor space on the Terrace level, while also allowing for uninterrupted views of the city. As you might imagine, structural glass is an important feature of the CN Tower.
Prior to the renovations, the floor-to-ceiling windows were vertical. These have altered to a sloping design, providing visitors with much greater visibility from the viewing terrace.
In addition, one of the coolest additions is what are called its “tilt zones”. These are spaces where you can step up to the slanted windows and lean on them, allowing you to look directly down from the viewing area that stands 113 storeys high.
The renovations also include an uninterrupted glass floor for those who are brave enough to step onto it, as well as interactive video walls.
To accommodate the tilt zones and glass floor, clear toughened glass has been used to ensure that everyone can safely enjoy the views from the tower’s great height.
This is the first time the Terrace area of the tower has been renovated since it was constructed in 1975, when it was the world’s tallest building. Seeing what the architects have done with the space might inspire other iconic landmarks to make their own upgrades.
Of course, the CN Tower also offers its famous EdgeWalk, where you can walk along the tower’s outdoor ledge, while safely attached by a harness of course.
There are a growing number of landmarks around the world that are incorporating structural glass to give visitors an exhilarating experience. For instance, in Dubai there is the Sky Glass Observatory.
This incredible attraction takes visitors over 200 metres above the ground where they can walk along a 46-metre glass floor (if they’re brave enough) and then for the true thrill-seekers, ride the glass slide – it’s exactly what it sounds like.
A glass tube that allows you to slide from floor 53 to floor 52, all while enjoying stunning views of Dubai’s skyline.
It seems that there is demand among visitors for such attractions. This means architects whether of new buildings (like Sky Glass Observatory) or those renovating existing structures (like the CN Tower) may want to consider how to include toughened glass to provide that extra element of thrill.
If you’re wondering what kind of toughened glass you need for this kind of attraction, or simply want to explore options for using structural glass in a project you’re working on, we are more than happy to discuss your project with you.
We offer a range of toughened laminate glass that can be used as walk-on glass, as well as for other functions, such as to protect people or features (or both). Glass is such a versatile material and it’s brilliant to see it being used more creatively in a host of settings.
