Rising majestically before us stand the Leaside Towers. These aren’t just buildings. They are silent witnesses to Toronto’s history. They are a twin set of Brutalist-style apartment towers. One faces north-south the other east-west.
The Leaside Towers stand tall at 129 meters. That’s 423 feet. For a time they were the tallest apartment towers in the Commonwealth and Canada. Construction finished in 1970. They cost a staggering CA$20000000. That’s equivalent to $154778325 in 2023. The towers are located at 85 and 95 Thorncliffe Park Drive. They are close to Overlea. They were the tallest buildings in East York before amalgamation.
The Leaside Towers offer panoramic views. You can see Toronto’s skyline. The Don Valley and Don River are also visible. Each of the 43 floors in each tower contains 494 rooms. The Leaside Towers feature a unique mechanical system. Seasonal central air-conditioning and heating is provided. This is through a 4-pipe fan coil unit in every suite. A clever system of chilled water and glycol keeps the buildings cool. This is circulated through risers extending the full height of the buildings. Three evaporative cooling towers are used. These are located on the ground level south of 95 Thorncliffe Park Drive.
In winter a natural gas fired boiler heats the water-glycol mixture. The hot and chilled water risers are insulated with polyurethane foam. This was part of a case study done by the architect. Revolving doors create an airlock. This minimizes the stack effect during different seasons.
The Leaside Towers are more than just architecture. They have housed notable residents. One infamous resident was Bruce McArthur. He was a serial killer. He murdered eight men between 2010 and 2017. Police arrested him in 2018. His apartment was on the 19th floor of 95 Thorncliffe Park Drive. Other notable residents include former Toronto Mayor William Dennison. Former East York Mayors True Davidson and Michael Prue also lived there.
The Leaside Towers remain an iconic part of Toronto’s landscape. A testament to ambition and a home to many. They stand as symbols of a city’s growth. A city full of stories waiting to be discovered.