A comprehensive renovation of the Lower Observation Level at the CN Tower has been completed, marking the first major upgrade to the space since the tower opened in 1976. The project reconfigures both the interior and exterior visitor experience while expanding usable floor area within the structure’s original footprint.
The renovation follows a 2021 design-build competition won by a multidisciplinary team led by Boszko & Verity. The updated design draws on biophilic references to the Canadian landscape—incorporating arboreal forms, geological textures, and reflective surfaces—while responding to the tower’s radial structural geometry.
Key interventions include replacing the original vertical glazing and glass floor, introducing new sloped structural glass along the perimeter, and removing the exterior steel cage that previously enclosed the outdoor terrace. The redesign adds two “Tilt Zones,” allowing visitors to lean outward over the city, and encloses the exterior observation area with angled glazing to enhance transparency and views.
Given the tower’s wind-induced sway and floor oscillation, a custom-engineered perimeter enclosure system was developed to accommodate structural movement. Construction also required the installation of a four-storey permanent maintenance gantry, hoisted into place from ground level, underscoring the technical complexity of upgrading one of Canada’s most iconic observation spaces.
Read more at Archinect.com