Capital Tower (Cardiff)

 office building, high-rise

Used to be known as Pearl House, after the Pearl Assurance Company its principal tenant, it is currently Cardiff's second tallest building after Stadium House (BT)which is 120m including its aerial spire, but only 78m to the architectural roof top. This building at 262ft (80m) tall to the 25 floor building was completed in 1967. It was the tallest building in Wales , until Meridian Quay in Swansea topped out in September 2008.

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. Local speculation at the time alluded to the presence of a nuclear fallout bunker built into the basement - due principally to the over large basement ventilation tower seen at street level.