Walking Tour: Towers

Look up! Waaaay Up! And join us for a walk as we explore the history of Toronto’s skyscrapers!!
With 68 towers over 150m in height and 30 more currently under construction, Toronto is the skyscraper capital of Canada and the third in North America. But it wasn’t always like this – Toronto’s skyscraper history is only about 100 years old and continues to evolve to this day.

Join us on a walk through the financial district as we visit towers from each era of Toronto’s race to the sky, starting from some of the city’s earliest skyscrapers at the beginning of the 20th century all the way to glass giants currently under construction. At each stop we’ll talk about the technological innovations that made them possible, but also how each generation of architects dealt with the many questions this new building type presented – from how it should look to how it should meet the ground. Included in this tour of some of Toronto’s most iconic landmarks including Commerce Court North, the Toronto Dominion Centre, and – of course – the CN Tower.

Accessibility

We strive to host inclusive, accessible tours that enable all attendees to fully engage with the experience. Our Walking Tours take place on mostly flat terrain, such as city sidewalks and paths. To notify us of any accommodations you may need, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca.

Logistics

All TSA Walking Tours require prior registration. You can register online anytime prior to the start of the tour and walk-ins will be accommodated, unless we have reached capacity. Exact change is required for any tickets purchased at the tour ($15, HST included). Please note the TSA Membership discount is only available for tickets purchased online.

All tours are 1.5-2 hours long, and include mostly exterior stops. Your tour guide will be equipped with a microphone and speaker system to ensure you’re able to hear the tour clearly.

Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the tour begins for your tour guide to check you in. We encourage you to go paperless — we can use either your digital ticket or your name for check-in.

Our tours take place rain or shine, so please double check the weather on the day of your tour and dress appropriately. Should inclement weather require tour cancellation, we will reach out in advance of the tour to the email/phone number you shared when registering.

Thank You!

TSA Walking Tours are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Association of Architects and the passion and dedication of our volunteer Tour Guides.