Toronto Architecture Tours

Join the Toronto Society of Architects’ guided walking tours and learn about some of the city’s best contemporary architecture. Our highly trained, volunteer guides will take you to iconic buildings designed by world-renowned architects and explain the design context, details and unusual features that make these buildings notable. Fun and informative, Toronto Architecture Tours provide the stories behind the buildings and why architecture is such a powerful tool in rebranding businesses and organizations.  

Two tours are offered from June 4 to September 27, 2010:  

TOUR 1 |  “Toronto’s Cultural Renaissance: Buildings of the 21st Century”

Many of Toronto’s most significant cultural institutions have recently been transformed by major building projects.  Come and explore six of the most refreshing, dramatic and sometimes controversial buildings that have been built in the city since 2000.  The tour includes museums, performing arts centres and educational institutions as well as a walk through the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus.

HIGHLIGHTS |

  1. The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art: 2006 Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) Architects
  2. The Royal Ontario Museum: 2007 Studio Daniel Libeskind in joint venture with Bregman + Hamann Architects
  3. The TELUS Centre for Performing Arts and Learning, The Royal Conservatory of Music: 2009 Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) Architects
  4. The Art Gallery of Ontario: 2008 Gehry Partners, LLP Architects
  5. The Sharp Centre for Design, Ontario College of Art and Design: 2004 Alsop Architects with Robbie/Young + Wright Architects
  6. The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: 2006 Diamond and Schmitt Architects

DETAILS |

  • Fridays 1:00 pm; Saturdays 11:00 am
  • 2 hours in length
  • Distance approximately 2.5 km with some stairs to and from buildings.
  • Meeting place – The Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park.  “Museum” subway station.  
  • Tour ends at The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen Street West, “Osgoode” subway station.

TOUR 2 | “Skyscrapers of the Financial District”

Learn about the evolution of Toronto’s financial district, with a particular emphasis on the modern skyscrapers that marked a “race to the top” in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Discover how these spacious and dramatic structures reflect the prestige, dignity and solidarity of Canada’s national banking institutions and continue to inspire designers.

HIGHLIGHTS |

  1. Toronto-Dominion Centre: 1967 – 69 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Design Consultant with Bregman + Hamann Architects and John C. Parkin Architects
  2. First Canadian Place: 1975 Bregman + Hamann Architects with Edward Durrell Stone Design Consultant
  3. Scotia Plaza: 1946 – 51 John Lyle Designer with Mathers and Haldenby Architects; 1985 – 92 Webb Zerafa Menkes Housden (WZMH) Architects
  4. One King West Hotel & Residence: 1912 – 1914 Darling and Pearson Architects
  5. Commerce Court North: 1931 – 1934 York & Sawyer with Darling and Pearson Architects; Commerce Court West: 1972 I.M. Pei with Page and Steele Architects
  6. Brookfield Place and Allen Lambert Galleria: 1990 – 1997  Bregman + Hamann Architects; Galleria: Santiago Calatrava Architect
  7. Royal Bank Plaza: 1973 – 1977 Webb Zerafa Menkes Housden (WZMH) Architects

DETAILS |

  • Mondays 1:00 pm
  • 1.5 hours in length
  • Distance approximately 1 km with some stairs to and from buildings
  • Meeting place - south-west corner of King and Bay,  “King” subway station.
  • Tour ends at Royal Bank Plaza, 200 Bay Street. “Union” subway station.


TICKETS | http://tsa-events.eventbrite.com/
Adults - $20
Students/Seniors - $15
Groups of 10 or more – 15% off  Regular Adult Ticket Price

Groups wishing to enquire about private tours or special pricing may email us at walk@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca

Tickets are also available at:  T.O. TIX Ticket Booth – open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 6:30pm.  Located at the SE corner of Yonge and Dundas on Yonge/Dundas Square – directly across the street from the Eaton Centre and accessed via the Dundas Subway Station.  A service charge of $1.50 per ticket will apply.

Toronto Architecture Tours are generously supported by |

City of Toronto

DAM Squared Marketing

Ontario Association of Architects