Toronto New City Hall, Toronto

Another architectural landmark of Ontario's capital is the New City Hall. Photographed by many, this symbol of Toronto stands out as a unique structure accentuating the originality and sophistication in the city’s scape.

The New City Hall was designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, who was commissioned to the job following an international competition that drew in over 500 designs from 42 countries. The competition initially underwent grave criticism and ran into controversy as some felt the work should be done by a Canadian. Still, the end result gifted Toronto with one of its finest structures to date, a much-loved symbol of the state.

The construction began in 1961 and lasted four years. The project was run in collaboration with Heikki Castren, Bengt Lundsten, and Seppo Valjus, who, according to Revell himself, were not credited enough for their contribution. The Toronto New City Hall was Revell’s only design outside Finland and is the one for which he is most fondly remembered. Unfortunately, the mastermind behind the spectacular structure did not live to see his magnum opus completed, as he died earlier in 1964.