Remarkable Buildings Around the World: CN Tower, Toronto

Few structures define a city as strongly as the CN Tower defines Toronto. Rising 553 metres above the downtown core, it remains one of the most recognisable architectural and engineering landmarks in the world. What makes it remarkable is not only its height, but the precision and ambition behind its design.

The tower was conceived in the early 1970s as part of a wider project to modernise the railway lands and demonstrate Canada’s growing capabilities in engineering and telecommunications. Designed by the architectural firm WZMH Architects and engineered with the support of Canadian National Railway’s specialist team, the CN Tower became a symbol of innovation long before Toronto’s skyline was filled with modern skyscrapers.

The structure itself is a fascinating example of high-rise engineering. Its hexagonal concrete core, tapered shaft and external buttresses were all designed to withstand extreme weather and wind loads along Lake Ontario. Construction crews set world records for slipforming concrete, working continuously for days at a time as the tower rose higher than any free-standing structure before it.

I photographed the CN Tower from the railway tracks leading into Union Station — a perspective most visitors never see. From this angle, the tower becomes part of the city’s infrastructure: framed by steel rails, surrounded by train lines, and contrasted against the evolving cluster of high-rise buildings. This viewpoint reveals not the postcard image of Toronto, but the authentic connection between architecture, engineering and urban movement.

What I enjoy most when capturing cities is the intersection between design and context. Landmarks like the CN Tower don’t exist in isolation; they define the rhythm of a city, orient its residents and shape the skyline. Seeing it from an unconventional angle highlights how architecture can be both a standalone achievement and an integral part of everyday urban life.

Toronto is a city that continues to grow upward, with new towers emerging every year — yet the CN Tower still remains the anchor point, the structure that everything else is measured against. Its presence is both historic and contemporary, a perfect example of how great design can remain relevant for decades.

More remarkable buildings, cityscapes and architectural inspirations are available on my blog, as I continue documenting unique structures from around the world.