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Doors Open Toronto

This Saturday and Sunday, up to 150 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and social significance open their doors to the public for a city-wide celebration.

Free Admission

The program allows visitors free access to properties that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Many locations have organized guided tours, displays and activities to enrich the visitor experience.

From heritage landmarks to modern structures, hidden gems, green roofs, places of worship, halls of learning, boardrooms, bedrooms, breweries, lighthouses, mansions, museums, theatres, national historic sites, centres of rail travel, cemeteries, factories, banking halls, architects' offices and more.



* Special focus on new and retrofit green, sustainable buildings
* No tickets or pre-registration required
* Many buildings are not normally open to the public
* Official guide in the Toronto Star on Thursday May 17, 2007
* All venues feature behind-the-scenes tours, exhibits, activities and/or talks
* Many sites are kid-friendly
* Over 1,000,000 visits since the first-annual Doors Open Toronto in May, 2000



Doors Open Toronto invites you to get to know the city, whether you've lived in Toronto all your life or you're visiting for the first time. See Toronto like you've never seen it before!

"...Doors Open is one of the best things to have happened to Toronto architecture so far this century -- or any century for that matter."
- Christopher Hume, Toronto Star, May 19, 2005

link







401 Richmond West is an historic factory building that was constructed in five stages between 1899 and 1923. Originally occupied by tinware lithographers, the Macdonald Manufacturing Company, it is now home to over 140 cultural producers and microenterprises. In 1994, new owners purchased the building, aiming to provide affordable downtown workspace for artists and creative enterprise. Within 18 months, the largely vacant building was transformed into a fully leased and thriving cultural community centre. Renovations and attractions include over 800 original double-hung pine windows that are being restored, an expanded lobby with industrial detailing, refinished floors, ceilings and columns, a glass elevator, courtyard, historic studio doors, public art displays, an arts enriched early learning centre, a lush rooftop garden, a glass-walled bridge (�skywalk�), and The Roastery Coffee House. In 1999, Heritage Toronto honoured 401 Richmond with an Award of Merit for Outstanding Adaptive Reuse.






Opened in July 2004, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a traditional Hindu Mandir located on a scenic 18-acre site near Highway 427 North and Finch Avenue West. Intricately hand-carved in Burmese teak, the Mandir reflects the traditional wooden courtyard (Haveli) craftsmanship of India. The word Haveli refers to a majestic mansion (often royal courts), which was popular in India during the 17th century. These mansions were built in a particular architectural style featuring a low, multi-storied building with a central open courtyard decorated both inside and out with intricate woodwork. By the early 1900s, the use of Haveli architecture had almost completely ceased in India. However, in the 1990s, plans for a BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in London, England were being developed. Out of several architectural concepts suggested, His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS, insisted on a design based on traditional Haveli architecture. Thus the opening of the London Mandir in 1995 has brought this design back into the limelight. Since then, under the inspiration and leadership of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Haveli-style Mandirs have been constructed in Nairobi (Africa), Chicago (U.S.A.) and now here in Toronto. The Mandir�s beautiful architecture begins with hundreds of figures of musicians, poets and dancers carved into the portico, welcoming all visitors in traditional Indian manner. The entrance hall features a richly hand-carved wooden foyer that opens into a magnificent courtyard with soaring wooden columns and panels. Hundreds of dancing peacocks, delicate lotus flowers and royal elephants beckon in greeting. The building serves as a place of worship for the Hindu community and a place of inspiration for all visitors. The Toronto Mandir is an architectural masterpiece with breathtaking intricacy not previously seen in Canada. The Mandir has attracted many well known visitors including Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Toronto Mayor David Miller, Chief Justice Hon. Roy McMurtry, Mr. John Tory, Leader of the Ontario PC Party, and Police Chief of Toronto, Bill Blair and many others. The breathtaking architecture of the Mandir has been recently featured in the Toronto Star and in Canadian Interiors Magazine.





Bloorview Kids Rehab is Canada�s largest children�s rehabilitation hospital. In 2002, we partnered with the University of Toronto to become Canada�s first teaching hospital in children�s rehabilitation. We are home to the Bloorview Research Institute that was created in 2004. Bloorview Kids Rehab has always recognized the importance of sustainable and renewable energy. It was a natural progression to incorporate �green energy� into the design of the new building. A green or �vegetated� roof � a first for Bloorview � was installed on a portion of the first floor roof above the front entrance canopy, covering more than 1,900 sq. ft.
Energy recovery is a prominent feature in the new facility. Nature and technology join forces to make Bloorview Kids Rehab one of the first health-care facilities in Canada to recover and re-use rainwater as part of the irrigation system.
Considerable effort was made in the design of the new facility to incorporate solar panels on the flat rooftop.
In the early stages of planning for the building, Bloorview Kids Rehab held workshops to explore all energy-saving options, many of which were incorporated into the design of the building. Creating an accessible building is also an obvious priority for Bloorview due to the accessibility needs of many of our clients and their families. Our new facility has already been recognized worldwide as a model for accessible buildings. Toronto Star architecture critic Christopher Hume has included the new Bloorview Kids Rehab building in a list of top-10 architectural projects. �A place that could have been dreary and depressing is anything but. Iconic yet neighbourly and welcoming, it is one of the most deeply moving additions to the city.� Bloorview was recently honoured for the interior design project of our new building by The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) in the category of Health Care Facilities.






The Casa Loma Gardens, opened to the public in 1990, were renovated by the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma and the Garden Club of Toronto. The five-acre garden features a Cottage Garden containing rose arbours, clematis and perennials; a Rhododendron Dell; a Woodland Walk with ornamental grasses, forsythia and wild rose; a Watergarden with marsh marigolds and water iris and a Spring Woodland garden which features Virginia bluebells, trilliums, columbine and other native flora.





Designed by David Roberts Senior, Gooderham & Worts� 1863-64 Malt Kilns building is intimately related in form and function to the adjoining Malt House (Building 35). Originally three stories high, the roof of the Kilns Building was raised and other changes made between 1877 and 1884. Today, the Kilns Building is a four-and-a-half storey, hipped-roof, lantern-topped, red-brick box set on a rusticated limestone base. The function of the elaborately detailed square lantern appears to have been decorative, while a second larger lantern, now gone, was used to ventilate the interior. The north Mill Street elevation, where visitors will find the entrance to the kiln cellar, consists of seven piers and six recessed panels extending from a limestone base to Roberts� trademark arcaded corbels topping each panel.






Rack House D (Building 42) is the largest Victorian rack house (barrel storage building) at the Distillery District. Designed by David Roberts Junior and opened in 1890, the six-storey red-brick building commands the northeast corner of Mill and Trinity Streets. The exterior is massive and simple, composed of a series of brick piers and recessed brick panels, capped by a distinctive dropped corbel pattern unique to the buildings on this site. The wood-framed, double-hung windows on the east and west facades bear green-painted galvanized-metal shutters. Entrance is from the southern, Mill Street side.





During WWII the British Government had requisitioned or built 1,464 various ships for war service. Each of these ships bore the first name "Empire." The Empire Sandy is the last of the "Empire" fleet still in service. The Empire Sandy was built in Willington Quay-on-Tyne, England and went into war service on July 14, 1943. It was one of eight sister ships on the Englishman/Larch class which were designated "Deep Sea Tugs." Each was fitted with extra capacity oil fuel tanks for extended service in the North Atlantic. They were armed with anti-aircraft guns and carried four Royal Navy gunners. The Empire Sandy served in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. After WWII it was sold and its name was changed to Ashford. It worked as a tug and salvage vessel around the U.K., helping clear the wreckage of war. In 1950, the Ashford was sold to the Great Lakes Paper Company in Thunder Bay, Ontario and was renamed Chris M. For more than 20 years the Chris M towed logs and barges on Lake Superior but as the cost of maintaining the boilers escalated, steam ships were no longer viable economically. The Chris M was eventually sold for scrap and taken to Hamilton, Ontario for breakup. Three days before it was to be broken up for scrap, Norm Rogers, founder of Nautical Adventures, purchased it - it was his dream to recreate an authentic 19th-century Tall Ship. The whole ship was gutted, redesigned and rebuilt in the style of an 1800s three-masted schooner. The privately-funded conversion took five years and upon completion, the ship was rechristened the Empire Sandy. The Empire Sandy now earns her living as a charter vessel in Toronto. She is certified by Transport Canada to provide professional entry level training to those wishing to pursue a career in Canada's merchant navy.






Fort York Armoury is the headquarters of four active units of the Army Reserve and of several thriving Cadet organizations. Built in 1935 and designed by architects Marani, Lawson and Morris, it features a unique concrete parabolic roof spanning an unobstructed parade square. Within the armoury are three small regimental museums and, overlooking Lake Ontario, a series of regimental Officers' Messes which are superb examples of the traditional British form. The crowning architectural feature of Fort York Armoury is its parabolic Lamella roof. With strength and sophistication, it provides an uninterrupted span of nearly 125 feet and therefore plenty of room for parades, military vehicles and the training of soldiers. The armoury's main entrance is emphasized by pilasters of rusticated masonry with a large carved coat-of-arms of the Dominion of Canada above the flat keyed arch of the entrance. Set into the parapet over the stone-trimmed doorways opening up on ornamental iron balconies are the cap badges of each original regiment carved in stone.





This wedge-shaped Victorian landmark was built for financier George Gooderham in 1892 to serve as administrative offices for the Gooderham and Worts Distillery and other family business interests. Dominating the intersection of Wellington, Church and Front Streets, it is a rare example of 'flat-iron' architectural form. The property is protected by a City By-law under the Ontario Heritage Act. It is designated for its architectural value as a notable example of a building by an important Toronto architect working in a combination of the modern Gothic Revival and the Romanesque Revival styles. Located in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, 49 Wellington Street East contains 20,000 square feet of retail and office space.

They had a thing like this in Windsor & Essex County too. It was awesome. I would really like to go to this.

This sounds really interesting. I'll definitely take a look.

even if you do nothing else, go check out the distillery district ones

quote:

Originally posted by spitty even if you do nothing else, go check out the distillery district ones

100% agree! That area is f'n AWESOME.

So fantastic. Awesome way to spend a great warm, sunny summer day.

.

Flatiron is easily the flatest building around, and I intend to prove it by doing my miniature man routine there this saturday morning.

tried this out last year. it was a lotta fun. distillery district sounds like a good idea!

quote:

Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* .

I was gonna say - wtf, I didn't post that - but then I realized I was probably signed in on your computer Josh. hahah

im gonan be planning out my trip for the 2 days tonight

ok so here is my itinerary for the 2 days.

Saturday

1. SAS Building
280 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 1K7



LINK

I read a really good article of the this LEED building and all the green features of it. Also, the view from the upper balcony is really good. Hopefully the tour will go up there.


2. TTC Bay Lower
1234 Bay Street, Toronto, ON



LINK

Didn't see it when they had it open for that subway diversion a couple of months ago. Now I'll actually be in it. Should be fun for all transit enthusiasts.

3. Fort York
100 Garrison Road, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9



LINK

Always wanted to go here and check it out. Won't be able to make it when they're going to have Beer Fest there, plus it's free.


Sunday

1. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 4G1



LINK

Wanted to check this out on my own and see what all the hype is about. It does look interesting enough on the front facade and as i recall from photos of the inside, it is interesting as well.

2. Fairmont Royal York
100 Front St. West, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3



LINK

The tour of this looks REALLY interesting. The building overall is amazing and to see all the different behind the scenes areas would be great. I remember hearing on Breakfast Television a long time ago that they grow their own vegetables.

3. 401 Richmond Street West
401 Richmond St. W. , Toronto, ON M5V 3A8



LINK

I gotta see that huge outdoor roof garden!

quote:

Originally posted by smuncky 2. TTC Bay Lower 1234 Bay Street, Toronto, ON LINK Didn't see it when they had it open for that subway diversion a couple of months ago. Now I'll actually be in it. Should be fun for all transit enthusiasts.

i always wanted to sneak into lower bay station through museum station, never got around to it, tunnelrunning is more exciting anyways, and since i'll be busy tomorrow and on the boat cruise sunday, looks like i still need to sneak in

edit: has anyone here been to lower queen station?

Re: Doors Open Toronto

quote:

Originally posted by spitty 401 Richmond West is an historic factory building that was constructed in five stages between 1899 and 1923. Originally occupied by tinware lithographers, the Macdonald Manufacturing Company, it is now home to over 140 cultural producers and microenterprises. In 1994, new owners purchased the building, aiming to provide affordable downtown workspace for artists and creative enterprise. Within 18 months, the largely vacant building was transformed into a fully leased and thriving cultural community centre. Renovations and attractions include over 800 original double-hung pine windows that are being restored, an expanded lobby with industrial detailing, refinished floors, ceilings and columns, a glass elevator, courtyard, historic studio doors, public art displays, an arts enriched early learning centre, a lush rooftop garden, a glass-walled bridge (�skywalk�), and The Roastery Coffee House. In 1999, Heritage Toronto honoured 401 Richmond with an Award of Merit for Outstanding Adaptive Reuse.

I eat lunch there alot during the summertime. It's right behind my work building and is literally across the window from my desk. Really relaxing looking at it everyday. The Malamute who guards it is just as beautiful. I was supposed to have enjoyed this event this weekend, but instead, I'm working from home


I would encourage everyone, especially all you TOTA's who aren't born and bred in the city to go out and get to know this city... something other than just the clubs and bars.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyN i always wanted to sneak into lower bay station through museum station, never got around to it, tunnelrunning is more exciting anyways, and since i'll be busy tomorrow and on the boat cruise sunday, looks like i still need to sneak in edit: has anyone here been to lower queen station?

I viewed it about 8 yrs ago when I was there for a commercial that someone I knew was in. I was also recently there, when they were conducting work at St. George and BLoor...the trains detoured through there. Everyone was awed..and taking pictures. Funny..yet cool at the same time.

Re: Re: Doors Open Toronto

quote:

Originally posted by MikeyN edit: has anyone here been to lower queen station?

theres really nothign to see i dont think as it was never finished. ive only seen pictures of it and its just an unfinished tunnel with a slightly raised platform. but i guess it woudl still be cool to take a peak.

well day 1 is done and i gotta say i accomplished more than i expected. ttc day pass ftw!

here are some pics of my journey.

SAS Institute
- Awesome building. So many things done to make this a leading green building in Toronto. Just shows how much this company cares about its employees.

Front Entrance


Inside employee lounge looking from the 8th floor.


Skylight


View from the terrace/balcony


View from the terrace/balcony


Looking east

Lower Bay Station
- The line was HUGE! I didn't think it would be so long. But the wait wasn't that long at all. Maybe 20-25 minutes. They gave everyone tags (I was 633) and Adam Giambrone was there as well talking to one of the workers. Being a transit enthusiast, I loved every bit of this. So forbidden. This was a great move by the TTC to do this.





Empire Sandy Tall Ship
- On my way to Fort York, the streetcar stops at a red light at Spadina and Queens Quay, and I see the white ship and I remember that it's one of the sites of Doors Open. So I got a bit lucky there.




Fort York
- Overall pretty cool. I've been to some forts in Quebec and also to Fort Niaraga but once you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all.


So they are going to tear down the Gardiner


Love that bear



Canadian Armoury
- It was on the way to BMO Field so I thought I'd check it out, but unfortuently came a bit too late cuz they were pretty much done with their festivities.


Mercedes $$$

BMO Field
- The last stop today. I decided to stop by and see the field when it was empty. Let me tell you, it looks great. Now I gotta see it when it's full of people and there's a game going on.




More pics here

Can't wait for tomorrow. Too bad it's going to rain

quote:

Originally posted by smuncky Looking east

that is fucking awesome. looks great.

Unfortunately I won't be going this year as I have assignments due on Monday.

But I gotta say, last year, at the end of it all I thought to myself (aside from a few exceptions) the architecture in Toronto is fairly mediocre... there is nothing mind blowing... just clones of successful building in other parts of the world. Anyone notice that? Or am I just being pessimistic?


oh and btw, everyone check out 401 Richmond... awesome building. a lot of cool galleries in there + the inner courtyard + roof garden is amazing! love that place.

quote:

Originally posted by m2j Or am I just being pessimistic?

you're just being pessimistic

quote:

Originally posted by m2j oh and btw, everyone check out 401 Richmond... awesome building. a lot of cool galleries in there + the inner courtyard + roof garden is amazing! love that place.

yeh hopefully it wont be raining too hard. but is that where that thing was that you did mahan? the [im]parting thing right?


btw mahan, im going to check out the OAA building tom. as well
too bad my sony camera is in repair so i had to use my old/crappy kodak. ew.

Those are some great pics dude. That SAS bldg looks amazing. Will have to visit that one soon.

..and let me tell you, the BMO field filled with fans is absolutely amazing. The vibe the fans bring is incomparable to anything else in this city. The only thing that can compare is the Raps or Leafs in the playoffs...but that's the dif. They have to be in the playoffs to get that response.. TFC are in last place and still get that response everygame...from start to finish

yeah yeah..i know it's a new franchise.. i'm just saying...

quote:

Originally posted by smuncky you're just being pessimistic yeh hopefully it wont be raining too hard. but is that where that thing was that you did mahan? the [im]parting thing right? btw mahan, im going to check out the OAA building tom. as well too bad my sony camera is in repair so i had to use my old/crappy kodak. ew.

yup, 401 is the same building we had the show in.

oooooh yea! the OAA! Thats like a 3min drive from my house, I have work from 1:30-5. What hours are they open for viewing? I may go to check it out quickly b4 work.

What time are u going there, alex?

the SAS building was one of my favourites.

did anyone go see the Robertson building? it had a living wall that was cool and the offices and rooftop garden were awesome

quote:

Originally posted by m2j But I gotta say, last year, at the end of it all I thought to myself (aside from a few exceptions) the architecture in Toronto is fairly mediocre... there is nothing mind blowing... just clones of successful building in other parts of the world. Anyone notice that? Or am I just being pessimistic?

trying to be as unbiased as i can, i agree with you. i mean TO does have its gems like any other city, but nothing that totally blows my mind either. can't really fault the city for it tho given how young it is and the fact that most of the rapid development occurred in the 70's and 80's not to mention the lack of natural vistas like mountains. Tho it's still no reason why we can't get better which I think is the important thing. there are signs tho.. now all we need is a better public transit system ..

great pics Alex, shite I should have joined you today but woke up late and all the stuff

and with the boat cruise tomorrow, seems like I'm missing it next year for sure!

quote:

Originally posted by m2j yup, 401 is the same building we had the show in. oooooh yea! the OAA! Thats like a 3min drive from my house, I have work from 1:30-5. What hours are they open for viewing? I may go to check it out quickly b4 work. What time are u going there, alex?

im going to the OAA later on in the day.

i first have to go to the four seasons, then the royal york, then the 401.

here are the oaa hours.

Open:
Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm
Last admittance to building: 3:30 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
Last admittance to building: 3:30 pm

so you can try to make it in the morning.

quote:

Originally posted by dEsidEL trying to be as unbiased as i can, i agree with you. i mean TO does have its gems like any other city, but nothing that totally blows my mind either. can't really fault the city for it tho given how young it is and the fact that most of the rapid development occurred in the 70's and 80's not to mention the lack of natural vistas like mountains. Tho it's still no reason why we can't get better which I think is the important thing. there are signs tho.. now all we need is a better public transit system ..

having just visited new york a few weeks ago, i was amazed by how bland and plain the buildings there were. compared to toronto, we have a much more vibrant and modern style of architecture. now i dont know if thats just because of the many condo buildings going up, but toronto has also become a hot spot for many famous architects1. the rom, the ago, and the waterfront are just some of the new things we are getting. there have also been many more in previous years like city hall. imo, we are moving in the right direction. in the next decade or so, even in the next few years, the main form of architecture will be about sustainability. hopefully these new designs will reflect the nature of the building and how it responds to the environment that it is put in.

with transit as well, we are moving in the right direction. with the new chair of ttc, there has already been tremendous change. just look at todays open doors with lower bay being one of the sites. and with the new light rail proposal, it finally seems that things are heading in the right direction, even if they seem ambitious.

quote:

Originally posted by FunkyCrew great pics Alex, shite I should have joined you today but woke up late and all the stuff and with the boat cruise tomorrow, seems like I'm missing it next year for sure!

i woke up at 8.20. that was too early for me lol!

waking up at 8 tom.

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