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City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto

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City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
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City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square
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City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Outdoor skating in the winter at the City Hall
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  • When it comes to the winter time Nathan Philip's square (City Hall) is the main place for outdoor ice skating. As you see in my pictures below the skating area is really nice and you can always rent skates there. If you've never skated before specially if you're coming from warm area I suggest you maybe give this a thought, although you may not enjoy it at first skating is very fun. The city hall is also one of the main spots to be in downtown Toronto when it comes to the New Year's count down, it sort of plays out to be similar to Times Square in New York city.

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  • Phone: (416) 338-0338
  • Directions: It's really easy to spot the place, it's located at Queen & Bay St. and only a few minutes from Queen Subway Station [refer to my transportation section for a subway map]

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Toronto's Old City Hall
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  • The Old City Hall, Toronto - Toronto
    The Old City Hall,
    Toronto
    by Paul2001
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    This is actually the third city hall in Toronto. It is in my opinion one of the finest Neo-Romanesque buildings in North America. During the late 1800's it was decided that the present town hall was too small and a larger building was required. This new structure would act both as the municipal centre of the town and as the towns courthouse. The buildings was constructed over an eleven year span from 1888 to 1899 according to the design of Toronto architect, E.J. Lennox. At the time of its completion the City Hall was the largest municipal building in North America. The exterior of the building is adorned with brilliant red stonework that can rarely be matched anywhere in the Americas. Some of the figures depicted on the facade are quite grotesque and are said to be of city councillors whom Lennox had fight with over budgeting. The most notable obvious feature of the Old City Hall is the dominating 103.6m high clock tower. Four gargoyles now sit peering out from the tower, overlooking Queen Street. The interior of the Old City Hall has many interesting features such as mosaics, murals and stained glass windows. There was talk of demolishing the old structure when Toronto built it's latest City Hall but wiser heads prevailed and the Old City Hall still stands. It still is an active courthouse. I even have had to go to court here a couple of time to bear witness in a couple of criminal cases.

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  • Address: 100 Queen Street West
  • Phone: (416) 392-7341
  • Directions: The Old City Hall overlooks Bay Street and Queen.
  • Website: www.city.toronto.on.ca/old_cityhall/

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Toronto City Hall
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  • Toronto City Hall @ night - Toronto
    Toronto City Hall @ night
    by coolpanda87
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    Probably more famous than the unusual "spaceship" shaped Toronto City Hall is its popular outdoor skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square. Many events are held at Nathan Phillips Square throughout the year, & it is a constant place of fun & excitement. In the summer, the skating rink is converted into a water fountain. Designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, Toronto city hall stands as a contrasting post-modern building surrounded by comtemporary architecture. It was originally envisioned to be an eye with the two towers acting as eyelids. However, now it is now widely known as the UFO, the flying saucer, or the burrito. Outside, there is the Peace Garden, which offers a green respite from the bustle of the city. The garden is home to the eternal flame lit by Pope John Paul II from an ember of the Hiroshima Memorial, as well as Henry Moore's sculpture "The Archer". Though not all of City Hall is accessible by public, you can pop in at the lobby anytime & view any displays designated for public enjoyment. Also, during Council meetings, you could enter Toronto's Council Chamber, a public area that accomodates 300 people. From here, you can hear fierce debates & arguments as Toronto councillors plot the future course of this city. Especially those who are curious about democracy, you could see it all in action @ Toronto City Hall. Everyone here is free to speak the mind and express their opinions on any issue that concerns the city. In the middle of the first floor rotunda is a Golden Book of Remembrance, where the names of 3500 Torontonians who died in WWII are inscribed. Along the east wall of the rotunda, just inside the front door, is artist David Partridge's Metropolis, a mural made entirely of nails. On the West side rotunda, a scale model of the area of Toronto is on view. It allows visitors to locate landmarks, historic sites & future development that is taking shape in the core of the city. On the second floor is offices of 44 Toronto city councillors & of the Mayor of Toronto.

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  • Address: 100 Queen St. W.
  • Phone: (416) 338-0338
  • Directions: On intersection of Queen & Bay From Eaton Centre (Queen subway station), exit from Indigo Mall Entrance & walk to the mass of flags. From Osgoode subway station, walk East on Queen Street.
  • Website: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/city_hall_tour/index.htm

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Nathan Philips Square & the City Hall
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  • A child enjoying the pool at Nathan Philips Square - Toronto
    A child enjoying the pool
    at Nathan Philips Square
    by mim95
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    The City Hall was built in 1965 by a Finnish architect named Viljo Revell. A modern design made up of two curved office buildings and a circular structure in the center, where the city council sits. Nathan Philips Square, situated in front of the City Hall, is a popular spot for free concerts, festivals and skating in winter, when the pool is turned into a skating rink.

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  • Directions: NW corner of Queen & Bay, a block west of the Eaton Center or Queen subway station.
  • Website: http://www.toronto.ca

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Old City Hall
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  • Updated By mim95 on September 28, 2003
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  • The Clock Tower of the Old City Hall of Toronto - Toronto
    The Clock Tower of the
    Old City Hall of Toronto
    by mim95
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    The Old City Hall was built in 1899 by E.J. Lennox, a Toronto architect whose work included the Casa Loma and the King Edward Hotel. You have to go up close to the building to truly admire this masterpiece, as there are lots of detailed stone works and carvings, especially in the front entrance. It was the City Hall of Toronto until 1965, when the new city hall was completed.

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  • Directions: NE corner of Queen & Bay, a block west of the Eaton Center or Queen subway station.

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Toronto City Hall
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  • Completed in 1965, this uniquely designed City Hall resembles two boomerangs enclosing a spaceship. The "spaceship" is actually the saucer shaped Council Chambers, while the "boomerangs" are two curved office towers of unequal height. In front of City Hall you wil find Nathan Phillips Square which becomes a public skating rink in the winter time.

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  • Address: Queen St West
  • Directions: Exit at the Osgoode or Queen Street Subway stations.

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Toronto's Old City Hall
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  • It has to be noted that the tourist spot in the intersection of Bay & Queen Streets which is known as the Old City Hall is the third built by the City of Toronto. The first city hall was burned down. The second is located inside the St Lawrence Market. The third is the popular Old City Hall. The fourth is the current or New City Hall. This Old City Hall was designed by EJ Lennox in 1887 to fit central site at head of Bay Street. In one structure, these municipal buildings combined on City Hall in the east portion and Court House in the west. The building, constructed mostly of sandstone from Credit River Valley was begun in 1889. Massive, round arched, and richly carved. It is in the Romanesque Revival style then popular in expanding cities throughout North America. The interior, as complex and monumental as the exterior, includes a large stained glass window by Robert McCausland. The building was acquired by the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto in 1965, when the city moved to a new City Hall on the adjacent Civic Square. One of the highlights of the Old City Hall is the Clock Tower which measures 300 feet tall. On Decembeer 31, 1900, the bells rang for the first time the largest of which is called Big Ben weighing 11,648 pounds. Come visit the Old City Hall of Toronto and the other "must see" attractions are just within walking distance.

  • Address: 60 Queen St W, Toronto ON M5H 2M3
  • Directions: Get off by Subway Train at the Queen Subway. Proceed to the Queen Street. Old City Hall is between Eaton's Centre and Nathan Phillips Square. You will not miss it!
  • Website: www.toronto.ca

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: The City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square
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  • The City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square - Toronto
    The City Hall and Nathan
    Phillips Square
    by Paul2001
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    Back in the late 1950's it was decided by Nathan Phillip's, the first Jewish mayor of Toronto that it was necessary to build a new administrative building to run the city's affairs. A world-wide contest was held for the design. It was won by Finnish architect, Viljo Revell who sadly did not live to see the new City Hall's opening on September 13, 1965. The building consists of two carved concrete towers that surround a flying saucer shaped chamber where the local city council meets. This chamber seats 300 people so if you want to see Toronto's local elected officials in action, then feel free. Before the City Hall a square has been laid out now named after Mr. Phillips. The square is very busy with locals from the business district who come here to relax during the lunchtime period on hot summer days. There is a large reflecting pool in the square which during the winter month is turned into a skating rink that is very popular. Skates can be rented at a kiosk. There are also several gardens spread out throughout the square and a large sculpture created by Henry Moore known as "The Archer". Festivals and concerts are frequently held in the square. This includes the Toronto Jazz festival which is held in late June. On the downside, the square has been inhabited by scores of homeless people of late. However recent legislation has been passed that will hopefully clean up this problem.

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  • Address: 100 Queen Street West
  • Phone: 416/338-0338
  • Directions: North of the Business District
  • Website: www.city.toronto.on.ca

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: Combination of the Old & New Architecture Styles
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  • "New" City Hall and the
    architectural curves
    by CdnJane
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    One place that is always fun to show off, are the Twin buildings of "New City Hall" at Nathan Phillips Square. It is actually not really the city hall anymore as there is Metro Hall down on King Street at John Street. However, because of the older city hall with the more classical architecture of the 1800s across Bay Street from Nathan Phillips Square, known as "Old" City Hall - we still tend to refer to it as "New" City Hall. I didn't really take a picture of the curved towers, or of Old City Hall - just took a picture of some of the architectural features.

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  • Address: Queen St between Bay St. & University Ave

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    City Hall & Nathan Phillips Square: City Hall
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  • The Toronto City Hall is one of the most beautiful pieces of modern architecture I have ever layed my eyes upon. It looks really beautiful with ity's ingenious curves. It was built in 1965 by a Finnish architect. In the park surrounding the City Hall you can enjoy free concerts in the summer, or go ice skating in the winter. Besides the main lobby, the building is not accessable for the public.

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  • Address: 100 Queen St. W.
  • Phone: 416 338-0338
  • Directions: Near Eaton Centre

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