CN Tower interior renovation honours “monument to Canadian life”

Local construction firm Boszko & Verity and design studio Superkül have renovated the Lower Observation Level at the iconic CN Tower in Downtown Toronto, adding a “undulating biophilic ceiling system” to the interior 1,200 feet above ground.

The team installed new enclosure elements, replaced the existing glass flooring with larger panes, and updated the interiors, with a finned ceiling that was designed to give the space a “treetop” feel.

Led by Boszko & Verity with designed by Superkül, the team revamped the interiors on the lower observation deck of the CN Tower, which, at 1,815 feet tall (553 metres) is the tallest freestanding structure in North America.

The team expanded the usable floor space of the observation deck while dealing with the constraints of working at such lofty heights.

To do this, the team installed a four-storey permanent maintenance gantry around the exterior of the habitable bulb-shaped feature near the top of the concrete tower. From there, the team was able to install a new enclosure system, including durable sloped glass.

At multiple points in the perimeter, team team added special railings, similar to swimming pool egresses, to allow visitors to step up to the glass and look down and over the expanse of Canada’s largest city.

The outside terrace deck was also renovated as part of the project.

The undulating ceiling, which the team referred to as “biophilic” as well as other “durable” elements were informed by the forested character of the Canadian landscape.

“Our design takes inspiration from an arboreal canopy and other natural elements – tree branches, rocky surfaces, the reflective surface of water, the ripple of a breeze – to honour the Tower as a monument to Canadian life and ambition,” said Superkül, which added that the elements also respect the radial architecture of CN Tower.

“Our parametrically designed modular ceiling system honours the CN Tower’s radial architecture,” Superkül continued.

“The digitally fabricated oak-laminated phenolic fins extend centripetally, drawing people’s gazes out to the unparalleled views of Toronto.”

The team engineered custom connection points to fasten the ceiling in place despite the slight oscillation of the tower. C

The team included new audiovisual elements throughout the space. These include a floor-to-ceiling video wall called the Artmosphere that showcases digitised images and speakers throughout.

Upper levels on the observation decks include more space for visitors as well as a restaurant, both renovated in 2018.

The CN Tower, which opened in 1976, was designed by Australian architects John Andrews & Roger Dutis alongside local studio WZMH, with engineering by NCK Engineering. It was the tallest freestanding structure in the world for nearly 30 years, until it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2007.

After 2007, it still dominated the Toronto skyline, but lately the city has been filling in to meet the height of the tower, with a number of supertall skyscrapers, including one by Foster + Partners and the in-progress SkyTower by Hariri Pontarini, the tallest skyscraper in Canada.

The photography is by Doublespace Photography unless otherwise stated.

Project credits:

Design build team lead: Boszko & Verity
Architect: Superkül
Structural + envelope: Entuitive Consulting Engineers
Mechanical + electrical: HH Angus and Associates
A/V: Branch Audiovisual
Code: LRI Engineering
Wind: RWDI
Heritage: Phillip Goldsmith
Accessibility: Human Space