Events

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. ...

Join us on this walk as we explore how architects have worked around, added to, repaired, adapted and sometimes even relocated some of the university’s earliest structures. Learn about the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when dealing with heritage structures. Along the way we will explore a wide range of buildings and landscapes - from High Victorian masterpieces with gleaming glass additions, to Brutalist behemoths and modernist pioneers - many which challenge preconceptions of what heritage is and raise the question of how can we preserve our past while meeting the needs of the future. ...

Join us on a tour as we take a walk along the quays, slips and docks of Harbourfront, Toronto’s pioneer neighbourhood in waterfront revitalization, and uncover the stories of this multi-decade transformation through its buildings and landscapes. Along the way we will see how old industrial buildings and spaces have been transformed into some of the city’s leading cultural venues and take a look at award winning residential projects and imaginative landscapes that seek to reconnect Torontonians with their lake. From artist studios to manicured gardens, wetlands to silos, there is so much to see at the waterfront! ...

Join us on a tour as we explore this unfolding transformation through some of the buildings and landscapes of Toronto’s newest mix-use neighbourhood. At the centre of this tour will be imaginative and innovative landscapes and public spaces by prominent landscape architects that have catalyzed this redevelopment, and the ambitious plans of Waterfront Toronto to transform our waterfront. ...

Join us on this tour as we see how the work, activism and ideas of 20th and 21st century architects, planners and designers helped not only preserve our past, but bring new life to this once decaying neighbourhood. We’ll see examples of modern spaces that carefully frame historic landmarks, art pieces that resurface long forgotten stories, and new additions that reinterpret history and bring new life into the district. Along the way we’ll talk about the birth of the city’s heritage conservation movement, ongoing efforts to preserve historical spaces and artefacts, and the role new developments play in safeguarding our city’s history. Our tour will end with a visit to the much celebrated St. Lawrence redevelopment, a modern mixed-use neighbourhood developed in the 70s, 80s and 90s combining contemporary architecture with clever reinterpretations of the city’s historic urban fabric. ...

For our next session of TSA CONNECT, we’re so excited to be bringing back one of our favourite topics: volunteering! Come join us for a night of networking and relationship building as our Featured Guests share their stories and advice as active volunteers in our community: from what motivates them to volunteer to how they balance their work, family, and volunteering obligations. Our Featured Guests represent a wide variety of volunteer roles and organisations working to make our industry and city better for all, from non-profits to advocacy groups, regulators to municipal committees. ...

Independently produced projects are integral to the Festival’s structure. We welcome all who want to present, discuss, demonstrate, or exhibit design in any field and/or related disciplines. Exhibitors include artists, designers, design firms, local businesses, academic and cultural institutions, and students. Exhibitors are responsible for arranging their own venue in Toronto, including spaces such as galleries, studios, workshops, cafés, schools, lobbies, and businesses. We also welcome online events and exhibitions. ...

Come join us on a walk as we explore the buildings and landscapes of North York City Centre, the unabashedly modern downtown created during the 70s, 80s and 90s. From High-Modernist interior streets to Post Modern spires, grand public spaces to award-winning buildings, join us as we explore the unique architectural and civic legacy of this planned core and share the stories behind its significant structures. Along the way we will discuss some of the challenges facing North York today, as well as the exciting proposals that promise to shape its future. ...

Join us on this one-of-a-kind subway ride as we explore the stories behind the underground gallery that is the Spadina Line! From grounded brutalist hubs to playful multi-coloured stops, we’ll explore the line’s unique stations, all drastically different from one another and featuring integrated artwork in fun and unexpected ways. Along the way we will discuss the exceptional collaboration that was needed to achieve these beautiful and functional buildings, as well as some of the challenges faced when integrating art into public settings. ...

The world is greying. By 2050 the global population age sixty-five and older is projected to nearly double—from 12% to 22%, and while many older persons continue to experience relatively good health, contributing importantly to society as family members, volunteering, and in the workforce, others will be at high risk of becoming unhoused, experiencing mental health and cognitive disorders, and comorbidities. Resilient architectural responses are needed to anticipate the needs and aspirations of older persons, particularly against the backdrop of the global climate crisis. Broad trends are examined in relation to progressive architectural case studies in the field of architecture and aging with particular focus on the long-term care housing crisis in Ontario. ...

ACO's 18th annual Heritage Awards will be taking place at the Arta Gallery in the heart of Toronto's historic Distillery District. Opened in 2003, the gallery is located in the former Molasses Tank building of the Gooderham & Worts distillery, dating back to the 1880s, and is a fantastic example of adaptive reuse. Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating the outstanding leaders, projects and initiatives from across Ontario helping to conserve our architectural heritage. Doors open at 6pm. Event starts at 7pm. ...

In this talk, Alfredo Theirmann will present Radio-Activities, his recently published book, in which he investigate this spatial conflict by interrogating the political, technological, and environmental dimensions of architecture at a time when buildings began to interact with the remote transmission of information. ...