Who designed the Toronto City Hall?

Viljo Revell designed Toronto City Hall.

Revell, a Finnish architect, won an international competition held in 1958 to create Toronto’s new civic centre. His proposal placed two curved office towers of different heights around a circular council chamber, producing the building’s distinctive sculptural silhouette beside Nathan Phillips Square.

Construction began in 1961, and the complex officially opened in September 1965. Revell worked with fellow Finnish architects Heikki Castrén, Bengt Lundsten, and Seppo Valjus, while Hannskarl Bandel served as structural engineer. Because Ontario required a local architectural partner, John B. Parkin Associates also participated in the project.

The answer is sometimes muddled because Toronto City Hall emerged from a competition with many prominent entrants, including I. M. Pei. Pei was a finalist, not the winner. Alvar Aalto was Revell’s mentor and sent congratulations after the victory, but he did not design the Toronto building. Revell died in 1964, before the hall’s official opening.