?was?is designed by

Veron   Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:14 pm GMT
If the agent of a passive sentence died but his/her past action has a result in the present, should the sentence be in past or in present tense?

e.g: The Eiffel Tower IS designed by Gustave Eiffel.
The Eiffel Tower WAS designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Johnny   Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:03 pm GMT
I guess it can only be "was". He designed it a long time ago, he is not doing anything now. He DID it, so it WAS done by him.
Guest   Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:17 pm GMT
<<The Eiffel Tower WAS designed by Gustave Eiffel. >>

I agree. The design event was in the past, therefore it 'was' designed, although the tower itself still exists in the present.