Doors Open Toronto

Spent the day today exploring some of the buildings open for Doors Open. Started at the King Edward (had to see the Crystal Ballroom, closed thirty years ago because of fire regulations; will possibly reopen in a few years), and continued on to St. James’ Cathedral, the Gooderham Flatiron Building, Union Station, Canadian Broadcasting Centre (met Andy Barrie), the Roundhouse, and Commerce Court North (shown to the right), once the tallest building in the British Empire. You really got a different sense of Toronto. It was like stepping back to a very different time. The Commerce building was a highlight, because we met the facility manager who was very passionate about the place. Construction took place during the Depression, but they instructed the architects to spare no expense, and they didn’t. The replacement cost of this building alone would be about $280 million today. Compare that to your average tower that would run about a third of that. Many other highlights. If you like architecture or history, you would have loved the day. Dead tired now, though. “The most important doors open very rarely. If a city opens its doors, don’t hesitate on the threshold. Walk through.”