Toronto City Hall
| Toronto City Hall | |
|---|---|
Exterior of Toronto City Hall from the southeast, 2017 | |
Location within Toronto | |
| General information | |
| Type | office building |
| Architectural style | Neo-Expressionist Modern[1] |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario |
| Address | 100 Queen Street West |
| Coordinates | 43°39′12″N 079°23′02″W / 43.65333°N 79.38389°W |
| Construction started | November 7, 1961[2] |
| Inaugurated | September 13, 1965[2] |
| Cost | $31 million[2] ($290 million in 2023 dollars[3]) |
| Owner | City of Toronto government |
| Height | 99.7 m (327.1 ft)(east tower)[4] 79.6 m (261.2 ft)(west tower)[5] |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | reinforced concrete |
| Floor count | 20/27 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) |
|
| Structural engineer | Hannskarl Bandel |
| Main contractor | Anglin Norcross Ontario |
| Awards and prizes | Ontario Association of Architects 25 Year Award (1998) |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect(s) | Bruce Kuwabara |
Ontario Heritage Act | |
| Designated | 1991 |
The Toronto City Hall, or New City Hall, is the seat of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. Designed by Viljo Revell and engineered by Hannskarl Bandel, this example of Neo-Expressionist Modern architecture opened in 1965. Adjacent is the Nathan Phillips Square public square, designed and opened together with the hall.
Toronto City Hall replaced the neighbouring Old City Hall, which had been occupied by the municipal government since 1899 but was no longer adequate in size.[6] Plans for a civic square dated to the 1900s, inspired by the "City Beautiful" movement.
The design of the hall and square was the result of an international design competition in 1958. The design competition sparked a national discussion on the meaning of monumental public buildings, the role of competitions in design and the place of urban public space in society.[7] It was the first architectural competition in Ontario to allow international architects,[8] requiring the local architects' association to change its rules and allow open competition at the instigation of then Toronto Mayor Nathan Phillips, after whom the square is named.
- ^ McHugh & Bozikovic 2017, p. 17.
- ^ a b c "Toronto City Hall tour - a brief history". City of Toronto. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ "City Hall East Tower". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "City Hall West Tower". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Chodikoff, Ian. "Days of Future Passed". The Canadian Architect. 50 (8): 26–27.
- ^ Kapelos 2015, p. 11.
- ^ Armstrong 2015, p. 32.