Competing Modernisms: Toronto’s New City Hall and Square

The 1958 architects’ competition for Toronto’s new city hall and public square garnered more than 500 entries and became the largest such competition of its era. Finnish architect Viljo Revell won the competition, and his complex opened in 1965; less discussed, however, are the consequences of the competition for Canadian architectural culture. Competing Modernisms (Dalhousie Architectural Press) tells that story and showcases 50 of the wide-ranging entries. Kapelos, an architect and planner, is an associate professor of architectural science at Ryerson University.