10 Buildings you must visit in Toronto as an Architect

Toronto, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city in Canada, showcases a wide array of architectural styles from historic Victorian buildings to modern skyscrapers. Here are ten amazing architectural buildings you should consider visiting when you're in Toronto recommended by an Architect for an Architect:

1. CN Tower

• Location: Downtown Toronto
• Architect: John Andrews, Webb Zerafa, Menkes Housden
• Date of Construction: Completed in 1976
• Description: Once the world's tallest freestanding structure, the CN Tower is an iconic symbol of Toronto, offering panoramic views and famous for its glass floor and revolving restaurant.
  The image on the right shows the Edgewalk experience and the views from the top.
  
  CN Tower was the tallest free standing structure from its completion in 1976 until 2007 when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

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2. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

• Location: Bloor Street West
• Architect: Original building by Darling and Pearson, Michael Lee-Chin Crystal by Daniel Libeskind
• Date of Construction: Original in 1914, Crystal in 2007
• Description: The ROM is known for the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, a striking modern addition made of glass and metal that contrasts with the museum's original traditional structure.

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3. Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

• Location: Dundas Street West
• Architect: Frank Gehry
• Date of Construction: Redesigned and reopened in 2008
• Description: The AGO features a glass and wood façade and a remarkable spiral staircase, showcasing Gehry’s distinctive modern style.

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4. Casa Loma

• Location: Austin Terrace
• Architect: E.J. Lennox
• Date of Construction: Completed in 1914
• Description: A majestic Gothic Revival style castle with towers and secret passageways, now serving as a museum and popular landmark.

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5. Toronto-Dominion Centre

• Location: King Street West and Bay Street
• Architect: Mies van der Rohe
• Date of Construction: Completed in 1967
• Description: A landmark of International Style, this complex includes sleek office towers characterized by their use of black and bronze.

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6. Ontario Science Centre

• Location: Don Mills Road
• Architect: Raymond Moriyama
• Date of Construction: Opened in 1969
• Description: Designed to integrate with the natural ravine, the building is a pioneering facility for interactive science exhibitions.

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7. Scarborough Civic Centre ​

• Location: Borough Drive, Scarborough
• Architect: Raymond Moriyama
• Date of Construction: Opened in 1973
• Description: Noted for its distinctive modernist architecture, the centre features a unique angular and tiered design.

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8. Robarts Library

• Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
• Architect: Mathers & Haldenby, in association with Warner, Burns, Toan & Lunde
• Date of Construction: Opened in 1973
• Description: Known for its brutalist architecture and peacock-like shape, Robarts Library is a significant academic and architectural site.

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9. OCAD University Building

• Location: McCaul Street
• Architect: Will Alsop
• Date of Construction: Completed in 2004
• Description: Known as the “Sharp Centre for Design,” this building features a playful, box-like structure mounted on colorful stilts.

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10. Brookfield Place

• Location: Bay Street
• Architect: Santiago Calatrava (Allen Lambert Galleria)
• Date of Construction: Completed in 1992
• Description: Famous for its atrium, known as the Allen Lambert Galleria, which features stunning arches and skylights, often likened to a cathedral.

Each site on this list not only demonstrates architectural brilliance but also captures the spirit of Toronto's cultural and historical evolution.