Supertall Buildings Challenge Classic Skyscrapers in Toronto (Photo Shoot and Architecture Tour with Kotsy)
Toronto has been known as one of the most active skylines in the world. From the CN Tower to the record breaking number of cranes operating to build up the highrises across the city, TO as locals know it, is indeed rising at a crazy rate.
Tdot Shots and our community love to document this phenomenon. In these posts local creator Kotsy aka @itsonlykotsy has photographed the incredible Sky Tower by Pinnacle. Sharing these images to social via Instagram stirred up some strong interest in this new realm of supertall constructions in the city. Visit the artist at their site: kotsy.ca.
Canada has a few supertall buildings; it has three under construction – The One, Skytower at Pinnacle One Yonge, and Concord Sky, all of which are in Toronto.
Toronto has a some beautiful skyscrapers and a fast growing skyline. Some of the key buildings in the Toronto financial district include the behemoth First Canadian Place, Scotia Plaza, RBC and various skyscrapers in and around the business district. There are also some skyscraper worthy residential buildings including Aura, One Bloor East and ICE condominiums in South Core. Scroll to see some of them!
This article features this illustration and lots of great photography.
We thought it would be nice to include the Royal York hotel, one of the original tall building classics. Built in 1929 it is truly one of the city’s great landmarks. The elegant hotel in central downtown is a mammoth structure with 1,363 rooms across 28 floor. It was the tallest building in in the British Empire from 1929 to 1931
Quick definition: A supertall building is a skyscraper measuring 300 meters (984 feet) or taller, a definition established by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). This category represents a significant step above standard skyscrapers and falls below “megatall” buildings (600+ meters).
Key Aspects of Supertall Architecture
- Definition: 300 meters to 599 meters (984 ft to 1,965 ft).
- Structural Focus: These structures face intense wind, seismic, and fire risks, requiring advanced engineering like concrete cores, outriggers, and tuned mass dampers.
- Design Trends: Often designed as mixed-use, combining office space with luxury hotels or residential units. Modern supertalls frequently use slender designs, particularly in New York City.
- Context: While popular in the 20th century in Chicago and NYC, most are now built in Asia (specifically China) and dense urban hubs.
- Examples: One World Trade Center (NYC), Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur), and Taipei 101 (Taiwan)
Curious? Read on for some key facts about these buildings and contact us if you would be interested in an architectural focused tour of the city. It’s one of our favorite Tdot.cc photo walks.
Gallery
Pinnacle Sky Tower and CN Tower
Construction of Sky Tower in progress with fog rolling through the Toronto downtown aka financial district.
The contrast of One Bloor East vs the new One Bloor West (under construction and rising quickly). One Bloor East is 257 meters and One Bloor West is 309 meters which puts it into supertall territory.
CN Tower framed by the two massive towers of the iconic Ice condominiums building.
Classic financial district architecture amid the massive fog that rolled through town, expertly captured by our contributor Kotsy. The old king of tall Toronto buildings is the white one in the photos – the venerable First Canadian Place, owned by BMO aka Bank of Montreal.
Thanks for Reading
We appreciate your support of Tdot Shots and our network of sites and socials. Please do support the photographer by checking them out on Instagram at @itsonlykotsy and on the web at kotsy.ca.
What do you think of Kotsy’s photographs of the TO skyline and the incredible Sky Tower by Pinnacle? We bet you have an interest in this new realm of “Super Tall” constructions in the city. We certainly do and we’ll keep posting about this cool new architectural phenomenon in Toronto.
Cheers for sticking with us to the end!
Mike
Founder of Tdot.com and Tdot Shots
Hello city explorers. I’m Mike. I’m passionate about arts and education in Toronto (aka Tdot). I host events and create media, including this site you’re reading right now.
Please contact me for information about photo walks, tours and events in the city. I’d be happy to share some tips & share the best of the city with you.
