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View of Downtown Toronto in 2020

Many of the tallest buildings in Toronto are also the tallest in all of Canada. The tallest structure in Toronto is the CN Tower, which rises 553.3 metres (1,815 ft). [1] The CN Tower was the tallest free-standing structure on land from 1975 until 2007. However, it is not generally considered a high-rise building as it does not have successive floors that can be occupied. The tallest habitable building in the city is First Canadian Place, which rises 298 metres (978 ft) tall in Toronto's Financial District and was completed in 1975. It also stands as the tallest building in Canada. [2]

The history of skyscrapers in Toronto began in 1894 with the construction of the Beard Building, which is often regarded as the first skyscraper in the city. [3] Toronto went through its first building boom in the late 1920s and early 1930s, during which the number of high-rise buildings in the city vastly increased. After this period, there was a great lull in construction between 1932 and 1964 with only a single building above 91.5 metres (300 ft) tall being built.

The city then experienced a second, much larger building boom, which was at its peak between 1967 and 1976. This period saw the construction of Canada's three tallest buildings and six of its top ten (at the time). When topped off in 1967, the TD Bank Tower was the 14th tallest building in the world. The TD Tower would soon be followed by Commerce Court West, the 14th tallest building in the world at the time of its completion in 1972. Later, Canada's current tallest building, the First Canadian Place, became the eighth tallest building in the world at the time of its completion in 1975. After the mid-1970s, the pace of the boom slowed considerably but continued onto the early 1990s, culminating with the construction of the city's and Canada's second and third tallest buildings: Scotia Plaza and the TD Canada Trust Tower.

After this boom, the city went through a third, shorter lull in construction from 1993 to 2004, in which the city added only one new building to its top 20. By 2005 however, the city's third and largest high-rise construction boom began with the completion of One King Street West and has continued unabated ever since with nearly 50 planned, under construction or recently built buildings over 152.4 metres (500 ft) tall. Of the 21 buildings in Toronto taller than 200 metres, only seven were built prior to 2010. In 2012, The St. Regis Toronto (then known as Trump International Hotel and Tower) was completed, with a top dome height of 252 m (827 ft) [4] and an antenna height of 277 metres (908 ft), making it the fourth-tallest structure in Toronto and all of Canada. With the completion in late 2014 of Aura—which, at 78 storeys and a height of 272 m (892 ft), is the tallest residential building in Canada—the tallest building under construction is the 328.4-metre (1,077 ft) tall The One (though the developer applied for a height increase to 338 metres (1,109 ft)), also a residential building.

Natalie Alcoba of the National Post described this phenomenon as the " Manhattanization" of Toronto in reference to the built-up nature of the namesake island borough in New York City. [5] In one week of 2018, Toronto City Council approved 755 storeys of new development in the city's downtown core. [6] The Toronto skyline (especially the CN Tower) can be spotted by the naked eye during clear daylight skies from locations as far as Newmarket from the north, Clarington from the east, several points along the Niagara Escarpment from the west, and Fort Niagara State Park in the south across Lake Ontario in the U.S. state of New York. [7]

As of January 2023, Toronto has constructed 81 skyscrapers and has a further 36 under construction. Toronto also has 92 skyscrapers that are either approved or in the proposal stage. [8] Toronto currently ranks 20th in the world with most skyscrapers already completed, third in North America and first in Canada. Toronto ranks fourth in the world and first in North America with the number of skyscrapers under construction.

Ranking by standard height

There are 80 skyscrapers in Toronto that stand at least 150 m (492 ft) ranked by standard height measurement as of October 2021. [9] This includes spires and architectural details, but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. An asterisk (*) indicates that a building has been topped out, but not completed. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. Freestanding observation and/or telecommunication towers, while not habitable buildings, are included for comparison purposes; however, they are not ranked. One such tower is the CN Tower.

Rank Name Image Height
m / ft
Floors Year Category Notes
N/A CN Tower 553 / 1,815 147
equiv.
1976 Observation &
Telecommunications
Tower
1 First Canadian Place 298 / 978 72 1975 Commercial
  • Tallest building in Canada since 1975 [12]
  • 8th tallest building in the world at the time of its completion
  • Tallest building in the world outside Chicago and New York City at the time of its completion
  • Tallest building completed in Toronto in the 1970s
  • Formerly known as First Bank Tower
2 The St. Regis Toronto 277 / 908 63 2012 Hotel & Residential
  • Tallest mixed-use building in Canada [13]
  • 776 ft (237 m) to roof
  • Tallest building completed in Toronto in the 2010s
  • Formerly known as Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto and later as The Adelaide Hotel
3 Scotia Plaza 275 / 902 68 1988 Commercial
  • Tallest building completed in Toronto in the 1980s [14]
4 Aura 272 / 892 78 2014 Residential
  • Tallest residential building in Canada [15]
5 TD Canada Trust Tower 261 / 856 53 1990 Commercial
  • Tallest building completed in Toronto in the 1990s [16]
6 One Bloor 257 / 844 78 2017 Residential
7 Commerce Court West 239 / 784 57 1972 Commercial
8 CIBC Square I 237 / 780 49 2020 Commercial
9 Harbour Plaza Residences East 237 / 778 67 2017 Residential
10 ICE East (ICE II) 234 / 767 67 2015 Residential
11= Sky Tower Eau du Soleil 228 / 748 66 2019 Residential
  • Canada's tallest building outside a central business district.
11= Harbour Plaza Residences West 228 / 748 63 2017 Residential
13 Ten York 224 / 735 65 2018 Residential
14 TD Bank Tower 223 / 731 56 1967 Commercial
  • Tallest building completed in Toronto in the 1960s
15 Bay Adelaide Centre West Tower 218 / 715 51 2009 Commercial
  • Tallest building completed in Toronto in the 2000s
16 The Prestige at One Yonge 217 / 712 65 2022 Residential
17 Shangri-La Toronto 215 / 705 66 2012 Hotel & Residential
  • 66 floors including mechanical
18 Ritz-Carlton Toronto 210 / 689 53 2011 Hotel & Residential
19= Massey Tower 208 / 682 60 2019 Residential
19= Bay Wellington Tower 208 / 682 49 1991 Commercial
21 The Residences of 488 University Avenue 207 / 679 55 2019 Residential
22 The L Tower 205 / 672 58 2016 Residential
23= 88 Scott 204 / 669 58 2017 Residential
23= Four Seasons Hotel and Residences West 204 / 669 55 2012 Hotel & Residential
  • 55 floors including mechanical
25= YC Condos 202 / 664 62 2018 Residential
25= ICE West (ICE I) 202 / 664 57 2014 Residential
27= E Condos South 196 / 643 58 2019 Residential
27= Bay Adelaide Centre East Tower 196 / 643 44 2016 Commercial
29 Wellesley on the Park 194 / 647 60 2021 Residential
30 EY Tower 188 / 617 40 2017 Commercial
31= Casa II 185 / 607 56 2016 Residential
31= RBC Centre 185 / 607 42 2009 Commercial
33 U Condominiums - East Tower 184 / 604 56 2016 Residential
34 1 Yorkville 183 / 601 58 2021 Residential
35 TD North Tower 183 / 600 46 1969 Commercial
36 Maple Leaf Square North Tower 181 / 594 54 2010 Hotel & Residential
37= Casa III 180 / 590 55 2018 Residential
37= Royal Bank Plaza South 180 / 590 41 1979 Commercial
39= INDX Tower 179 / 587 54 2016 Residential
39= Water Tower Eau Du Soleil 179 / 587 49 2019 Residential
41 Vita on the Lake 177 / 581 51 2021 Residential
42 One King West Hotel & Residence 176 / 578 51 2005 Hotel & Residential
  • Tallest completed all-residential skyscraper in Toronto in the 2000s
43 The Well, Office Tower 174 / 571 36 2022 Commercial
44 Success Tower 1 173 / 567 55 2009 Residential
45 Teahouse Condominiums 171 / 561 52 2022 Residential
46 Maple Leaf Square South Tower 171 / 561 50 2010 Residential
47 Hullmark Centre, North Tower 168 / 551 45 2014 Residential
  • Tallest building in North York
  • Tallest building in Toronto outside of Downtown
48= 44 Charles Street West 166 / 544 51 1972 Residential
48= The Selby 166 / 544 50 2019 Residential
48= Karma Condos 166 / 544 50 2016 Residential
51 Quantum 2 165 / 541 54 2008 Residential
52= Residences of College Park North 163 / 535 51 2006 Residential
52= Burano 163 / 535 50 2012 Residential
52= One York Street 163 / 535 35 2016 Commercial
55= Success Tower 1 162 / 531 52 2011 Residential
55= Lago at the Waterfront 162 / 531 51 2016 Residential
57= X2 161 / 528 49 2015 Residential
57= FIVE 161 / 528 48 2016 Residential
59= The Uptown Residences 160 / 524 48 2011 Residential
59= Delta Toronto Hotel 160 / 524 47 2014 Hotel
61= Grid Condos 158 / 518 50 2019 Residential
61= 300 Front Street West 158 / 518 52 2014 Residential
63= Theatre Park 157 / 515 51 2015 Residential
63= PJ Condos 157 / 515 48 2021 Residential
63= Festival Tower 157 / 515 42 2011 Residential
66= Dundas Square Gardens 156 / 511 50 2019 Residential
65= 87 Peter (Noir Condominiums) 156 / 511 49 2018 Residential
66= King Blue Condominiums, Tower 2 156 / 511 49 2019 Residential
66= Daniels Waterfront, Lighthouse Tower 156 / 511 48 2020 Residential
66= Yonge & Rich Condominiums 156 / 511 46 2021 Residential
66= e2 at ePlace 156 / 511 46 2023 Residential
72 16 York 155 / 508 32 2019 Commercial
73= U Condominiums 154 / 505 46 2015 Residential
73= TD South Tower 154 / 505 39 1985 Commercial
75= West One 153 / 501 49 2007 Residential
75= 35 Mariner 153 / 501 49 2005 Residential
75= Westlake I 153 / 501 48 2015 Residential
75= Montage 153 / 501 48 2009 Residential
79= Chaz Yorkville 151 / 495 47 2015 Residential
79= Star Tower 151 / 495 44 2012 Residential
79= Cadillac Fairview Tower 151 / 495 36 1981 Commercial
79= The 250 151 / 495 35 1992 Commercial
83 Monde 150 / 492 44 2018 Residential

Ranking by pinnacle height

Skyscrapers and other structures may also be measured based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas. As architectural features and spires can be regarded as subjective, some skyscraper enthusiasts prefer this method of measurement. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.

Tallest buildings in Toronto.
Rank Name Pinnacle height
m / ft
Standard height
m / ft
Year completed Notes
1 CN Tower 553 / 1,815 457 / 1,499 1976 [11]
2 First Canadian Place 355 / 1,165 298 / 978 1975 [17]
3 Commerce Court West 287 / 942 239 / 784 1972 [18]
4 The St. Regis Toronto 277 / 908 277 / 908 2012 [4]
5 Scotia Plaza 275 / 902 275 / 902 1988 [19]
6 Aura 272 / 892 272 / 892 2014
7 TD Canada Trust Tower 261 / 856 227 / 745 1992 [20]
8 One Bloor 257 / 844 257 / 844 2017
9 CIBC Square I 237 / 780 237 / 780 2020
10 Harbour Plaza Residences East 237 / 778 237 / 778 2017
11 ICE East (ICE II) 234 / 768 234 / 768 2015
12= Sky Tower Eau du Soleil 228 / 748 228 / 748 2019
12= Harbour Plaza Residences West 228 / 748 228 / 748 2017
14 Ten York 224 / 735 224 / 735 2018
15 TD Bank Tower 223 / 731 223 / 731 1967 [21]
16 Bay Adelaide Centre West Tower 218 / 715 218 / 715 2009
17 The Prestige at One Yonge 217 / 712 217 / 712 2022
18 Shangri-La Toronto 215 / 705 215 / 705 2012
19 Ritz-Carlton Toronto 210 / 688 210 / 688 2011 [22]
20= Massey Tower 208 / 682 208 / 682 2019
20= Bay Wellington Tower 208 / 682 208 / 682 1992 [23]
22 The Residences of 488 University Avenue 207 / 679 207 / 679 2019
23 L Tower 205 / 672 205 / 672 2016
24= 88 Scott 204 / 669 204 / 669 2017
24= Four Seasons Hotel and Residences 204 / 669 204 / 669 2012
26= YC Condos 202 / 663 202 / 663 2018
26= ICE West (ICE I) 202 / 663 202 / 663 2015

Under construction

There are 36 buildings under construction in Toronto that are planned to rise at least 150 m (492 ft) as of January 2023. [24]

Rank Name Height
m / ft
Floors Year Notes
1 Sky Tower 346 / 1,135 105 2026 Upon completion, it may become the tallest residential building in the world by floor count
2 The One 328 / 1,077 91 2025
3 Forma West Tower 308 / 1,011 84 2028
4 Concord Sky 301 / 985 84 2026
5 Forma East Tower 266 / 874 74 2027
6 160 Front Street 240 / 787 46 2023 Also metonymically known as TD Terrace, though TD Terrace itself specifically refers to the podium rooftop space on the fifth floor
7 CIBC Square II 241 / 792 50 2025
8 Sugar Wharf Condominiums, Phase 1, Tower 1 231 / 757 70 2023
9 Sugar Wharf Condominiums, Phase 1, Tower 2 219 / 718 65 2023
10 The Pemberton 216 / 709 68 2027
11 11 Yorkville Avenue 212 / 697 62 2024
12 Concord Canada House A 232 / 761 74 2024
13 Concord Canada House B 203 / 666 64 2024
14 19 Duncan 187 / 612 55 2023
15 The Rosedale on Bloor 186 / 610 55 2023
16 Water's Edge at Cov 182 / 598 55 2025
17 8 Wellesley 182 / 598 55 2026
18 The United BLDG 180 / 589 52 2026
19 8 Cumberland 171 / 561 51 2024
20 55C Charles 167 / 574 53 2024
21 55C Charles 167 / 574 53 2024
22 252 Church 166 / 545 53 2024
23 88 Queen 163 / 535 53 2024
24 Lakeside Residences 158 TBD 2028
25 RIU Plaza Hotel 157 / 515 49 2023
26 Theatre District Hotel & Condos 157 / 515 48 2023
27 The Well Condominium Tower F 157 / 515 46 2023
28 Nobu Residences 1 157 / 515 45 2023
29 Nobu Residences 2 157 / 515 45 2023
30 400 King West 157 / 516 45 2025
32 55 Mercer 155 / 510 47 2024
33 Maverick 155 / 507 49 2024
34 One Delisle 155 / 509 49 2025
35 Peter and Adelaide 152 / 500 47 2023
36 The Saint 151 / 495 47 2023

Timeline of tallest buildings

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
m / ft
Floors Reference Image
Beard Building 163 King Street East 1894–1896 30 / 98 7 [3]
Temple Building 62 Richmond Street West 1896–1906 40 / 131 10 [25]
Trader's Bank Building 67 Yonge Street 1906–1912 60 / 197 15 [26]
Canadian Pacific Building 69 Yonge Street 1912–1915 65 / 213 15 [27]
Royal Bank Building 2 King Street East 1915–1928 89 / 295 20 [28]
Sterling Tower 372 Bay Street 1928–1929 90 / 313 21 [29]
Royal York Hotel 100 Front Street West 1929–1931 124 / 407 28 [30]
Commerce Court North 25 King Street West 1931–1967 145 / 476 34 [31]
Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower 66 Wellington Street West 1967–1972 223 / 731 56 [32]
Commerce Court West 199 Bay Street 1972–1975 239 / 784 57 [33]
First Canadian Place 100 King Street West 1975–present 298 / 978 72 [2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "CN Tower web site". Archived from the original on July 23, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "First Bank Tower". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "The Beard Building". Emporis. Retrieved February 18, 2008.[ dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Trump International Hotel and Tower". SkyscraperPage. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  5. ^ Alcoba, Natalie (August 27, 2014). "Toronto's 'Manhattanization': Downtown development growing at 'mind blowing' rate". National Post. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  6. ^ Church, Elizabeth (August 27, 2014). "Toronto is experiencing a 'Manhattanization' of its downtown core". The Globe and Mail.
  7. ^ "Facts and visitor information on the CN Tower in Canada". The World Federation of Great Towers. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  8. ^ "100 Tallest Completed Buildings in the World - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com.
  9. ^ "Number of 150m+ Completed Buildings - Toronto". Skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "CN Tower". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "CN Tower". SkyscraperPage. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  12. ^ "First Canadian Place - The Skyscraper Center".
  13. ^ "The St. Regis Toronto - The Skyscraper Center".
  14. ^ "Scotia Tower - The Skyscraper Center".
  15. ^ "Aura at College Park - The Skyscraper Center".
  16. ^ "Brookfield Place - The Skyscraper Center".
  17. ^ "First Canadian Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  18. ^ "Commerce Court West". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  19. ^ "Scotia Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  20. ^ "TD Canada Trust Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  21. ^ "Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  22. ^ "Ritz-Carton Toronto". Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  23. ^ "Bay Wellington Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  24. ^ "Project Database". UrbanToronto. UrbanToronto. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  25. ^ "Temple Building". Emporis. Retrieved February 18, 2008.[ dead link]
  26. ^ "Trader's Bank Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 24, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  27. ^ "Canadian Pacific Railway Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  28. ^ "Optima Business Centre". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 4, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  29. ^ "Sterling Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 1, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  30. ^ "Royal York Hotel". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  31. ^ "Commerce Court North". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  32. ^ "Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  33. ^ "Commerce Court West". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2008.

External links