The next cool thing can be found inside the Sun Tower’s green dome. A year ago we had the pleasure of touring inside it to shoot photos for Stevie Wilson story on the building’s history. What’s particularly cool about the dome itself is its functionality. Instead of fresco-ed or otherwise heavily ornamented interior, its innards are bare save for a big machine that controls the building’s elevators. The real magic, however, is its oculi, or the dome’s series of circular windows. The building itself looms beautifully over the corner of Beatty & Pender near Chinatown’s western gate, so each oculus frames a unique perspective on the city. A ladder leads up to an exposed cupola with 360 degree views that are slightly obscured by chicken wire, but these little windows – gems, really – steal the show. Access is restricted, so as far as hidden treasures go, they’re buried pretty deep.

THE NEXT COOL THING