May to October 2013
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Toronto boasts a world class mix of both heritage and modern architecture designed by local and internationally acclaimed architects like Mies Van der Rohe, Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Will Alsop, Diamond & Schmitt and KPMB to name a few. Join the Toronto Society of Architects’ guided outdoor walking tours for a 2 hour journey past some of Toronto’s most iconic architecture. Our professionally trained volunteer guides will share the design context, details, and unusual features that make these buildings notable and demonstrate why architecture is such a powerful communications tool for businesses, organizations, and the city.
"Very interesting. As a visitor to Toronto it was fun to see all the downtown buildings and learn about them."
"Excellent tour... The guide was exceptional!"
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OCAD University, photo from alsoparchitects.com
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, photo by Tom Arban
Featured Buildings
- Roy Thomson Hall, 1978-82 Arthur Erickson with Mathers & Haldenby; interior transformed 2000-02 KPMB
- Princess of Wales Theatre, 1991-93 Peter Smith of Lett/Smith Architects
- TIFF Bell Lightbox, 2007-10 KPMB
- proposed John Street Arts & Culture Promenade
- former Festival Hall, 1999 Kirkland Partnership
- Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 2006 A. J. (Jack) Diamond
- Umbra Concept Store, 2007 Kohn Shnier Architects
- Pachter Hall / Moose Factory Gallery, 2005 Stephen Teeple
- Sharp Centre, Ontario College of Art and Design University, 2004 Will Alsop with Robbie/Young + Wright Architects
- Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), 2003–08 Gehry International Architects with Adamson Associates Architects
Details:
WHEN | Weekly on Saturday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon from May 12th to October 6th, 2012
DURATION | 2 hours
DISTANCE | Approx 2.3 km with some stairs to and from buildings
MEETING PLACE | Near St. Andrew subway station (exact location provided with your e-Ticket)
FINISH: St. Patrick subway station
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Royal Ontario Museum, photo courtesy of B+H Architects
Terrence Donnelly Centre, photo by Ben Rahn/A-Frame Studio
Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building, photo by Benson Kua
Featured Buildings:
- Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, 2003-06 KPMB (original building 1984 Keith Wagland)
- Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition, Royal Ontario Museum 2003-08 Daniel Libeskind with B+H Architects
- Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Royal Conservatory of Music, 2005-08 KPMB
- Bata Shoe Museum, 1995 Moriyama & Teshima
- Woodsworth College Residence, 2004 architectsAlliance
- Max Gluskin House, 2008 Hariri Pontarini Architects
- John P. Robarts Reference Library, 1968-73 Warner Burns Toan & Lunde with Mathers & Haldenby
- Rotman Expansion, 2010-2012 KPMB
- St. George Street Revitalization, 1996-97 Brown and Storey Architects in joint venture with van Nostrand DiCastri Architects
- Willcox Street Pedestrian Way, 2010
- Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 2002 Donald Schmitt of Diamond Schmitt
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, 2005 Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner with architectsAlliance
- Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building, 2002-2006 Foster + Partners with Moffatt Kinoshita Architects
Details:
WHEN | Weekly on Sunday afternoons from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm from May 13th to October 7th, 2012
DURATION | 2 hours
DISTANCE | Approx 2 km with some stairs to and from buildings
MEETING PLACE | Near Avenue Road & Bloor St W. (exact location provided with your e-Ticket)
FINISH | Near Queen's Park subway station
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Toronto Dominion Centre, photo by David Michael Lamb
Brookfield Place Galleria, photographer unknown
City Hall, photographer unknown
Featured Buildings:
- City Hall,1958-65 Viljo Revell with John B. Parkin Associates
- Bay Adelaide Centre, 2007-09 WZMH
- Trump Tower, 2007-11 Zeidler Partnership Architects
- Toronto Dominion Centre, 1963-69 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe with John B. Parkin Associates, Bregman & Hamann Architects
- First Canadian Place, 1972-77 Edward Durell Stone Associates with Bregman & Hamann Architects
- former Toronto Stock Exchange, 1936-37 George & Moorhouse with S.H. Maw; renovated as Design Exchange, 1994 KPMB
- Scotia Plaza, 1985-88 WZMH
- Commerce Court, 1968-72 I. M. Pei & Partners with Page & Steele; 1994 renovation Zeidler Roberts Partnership
- former Montreal Trust Head Office, 1965 Page & Steele
- One King West, 2006 Stanford Downey Architects
- Prudential Building, 1958 Peter Dickinson
- Brookfield Place, 1989-91 Bregman & Hamann Architects with Skidmore Owings & Merrill; galleria 1987-92 Santiago Calatrava
- Royal Bank Plaza, 1972-76 WZMH
TICKET INFORMATION & REGISTRATION |
Adults - $20, Students/Seniors - $15, Groups of 10 or more – 15% off adult price
2013 Registration now open!
Click for Press Release | May 2013
If you would like to book a group tour at another time, please contact us at: walk@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca
For general or press related inquiries, please contact us at info@torontoarchitecturetours.com













