The home of architects-Alliance, located in the art deco Commodore Building, stands at the heart of the King and Spadina precinct. Since 1999, they have witnessed the neighbourhood’s transformation from being the hub of the garment industry to the home of many clubs and condos. See how Toronto has changed around them, and how they have helped facilitate that change.

The Archives of Ontario is the largest provincial archives in Canada, with a vast collection that includes paper items, photographs, maps, architectural drawings and audio, video and film recordings. Located at York University's Keele Campus, this purpose-built facility includes a reading room with digital microfilm readers, audio and video booths, digitization and conservation labs, an exhibit gallery and a classroom.

The Assembly Hall is a cultural community hub and rental facility. Built in 1898 as part of the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, it was redesigned in 2001 to meet a variety of cultural and community needs, while still preserving its historical charm. Today, it is a performance venue with community rooms for art classes, meetings, workshops and rehearsals.

Atelier Akb exemplifies urban revitalization, transforming a former 1980s mechanic's shop into a creative award-winning workspace. Completed in 2024, their renovation includes an all-white interior, resurfaced concrete floors and exposed ceiling trusses. Abundant daylight fosters a sense of tranquility. The atelier is part of an enclave of repurposed industrial buildings now housing art galleries, design studios and a food retailer. (Photo: Felix Michaud)

The Bata Shoe Museum is North America's only museum dedicated to exploring the history and cultural significance of footwear, housed in Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama's award-winning five-floor structure. The idea of the museum as a container came from the array of shoe boxes that house the rare and priceless artifacts, protecting them from light, moisture and dust.

This multi-purpose building has historical and cultural importance in Toronto’s East End. The main hall of this renovated church is where everything happens — including services, weddings, funerals and many social events. It's even an art gallery and industrial kitchen. It has become green with the installation of solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, LED lighting and a pollinator garden.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, owned and operated by PortsToronto, is a world-class, award-winning airport. Located on Toronto Island, it offers service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the United States. Doors Open visitors can explore the underwater pedestrian tunnel, the electric ferry, interactive exhibits and a rare chance to get up close with the airport’s safety vehicles.

A self-guided tour of this office will introduce visitors to projects that represent the diversity of Brook McIlroy’s work. More than just an architecture firm, their interdisciplinary team tackles social and infrastructural challenges — from the perspective of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, art and more. Staff will be on hand from all of those disciplines to answer questions.

Campbell House — built for William Campbell, the sixth Chief Justice of Upper Canada — is the oldest surviving building from the Town of York. Fifty years ago, it was rescued from demolition and moved to its current location, where it continues to operate as a museum. This vibrant public space inspires and educates visitors through its history and collections.

St. James Cathedral is both a parish church ministering to the historical St. Lawrence neighbourhood and a cathedral. It is the spiritual centre of the diocese and a focal point for Toronto’s civic life. Known for its towering spire and the distinctive ring of its bells, it opened for services in 1853 after fire destroyed the previous building.

Originally called Uplands, this was the summer home of the Cummings family. In addition to the main house are various cottages, now the Carriage House Studios. In 1927, the house was purchased by John Fraser, a Toronto financier, who enhanced the gardens. In 1978, the property was acquired by the City. It has operated as an arts centre/gallery since.

Established in 1981, Charles Street Video is one of the oldest non-profit production organizations supporting media artists. They host exhibitions, film screenings, installations and more, while providing affordable access to equipment and post-production editing facilities to film and media artists. During Doors Open, witness demonstrations of state-of-the-art camera and lighting equipment.

In 2016, St. Simon-the-Apostle and St. Peter’s Carlton Street amalgamated to form this new parish. Both churches have long histories of service in the city. The building itself is a graceful Jacobean arts and crafts-style building, dating from 1880. Some parts of it were designed by William Symonds and others by Eden Smith. Its various stained-glass windows are simply stunning.

This is one of Toronto’s oldest Anglican churches. Built to serve Irish immigrants, it has a long history of helping people on the margins of society. Following a 1977 fire, parishioners created a striking new ceiling and installed contemporary stained-glass windows on the south wall. The Toronto Homeless Memorial and a public labyrinth can be found outside on Trinity Square.

Opened in 1992, the City of Toronto Archives building was designed to be a safe, secure and efficient archives space, as well as an inviting research facility. The Records Centre houses 130,000 boxes of records. It also features a public research hall (used by researchers from around the world), conservation and digitization labs and changing exhibitions highlighting Toronto's rich history.

This is a stunning cultural facility located in Guild Park and Gardens. It features five art studios and a corridor gallery on each level. Built around an existing designated heritage building, a third floor was added to transform a former office and storage facility into a distinctive cultural landmark. Today, the Centre offers diverse and accessible arts and culture programs.

In 1874, British immigrants Jemima and John Howard donated their land to the City of Toronto to become High Park. Their home, Colborne Lodge, is now one of the Toronto History Museums. Historical records indicate that the Howards were avid players of board games. During Doors Open, rarely displayed historical board games and parlour games will be showcased and played.

Working to make Bulgaria increasingly recognizable in Canada, the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria is pleased to welcome guests during Doors Open. Come and learn about Bulgarian culture and traditions.

The Danforth Carhouse began servicing streetcars in 1915. In 1921, the Toronto Transit Commission took over and expanded it to accommodate the then-new streetcars. After the 1966 opening of the Bloor-Danforth subway, the carhouse was converted into an all-bus garage. Garage operations lasted here until the site closed in 2002. Today, the barns are the TTC’s marketplace and studios.

When this church was constructed in 1911, the surrounding area was mostly farmland. But it quickly grew and was settled by English, Irish and Scottish immigrants. Despite a major renovation in 1993, the elevation from the street looks much the same — even with the new addition. Set back from the sidewalk, the site offers gardens, benches and a Little Library.

Originally home to Knox College, this building later served as a military hospital and laboratory. It is now the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design. To create the faculty's new home, the restored historical building has been blended with a contemporary addition that continues to delight visitors. During Doors Open, take a self-guided tour.

Daniels Spectrum is a vibrant cultural hub located in the heart of Regent Park. It celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the local community while welcoming global perspectives. Since opening in September 2012, it has fostered social and community development, playing a pivotal role in transforming the neighbourhood into an inclusive, livable, healthy, safe and thriving community.

The DIALOG Design Studio is a landmark transformation, repurposing a former television studio space in the iconic Canadian Broadcasting Centre into a dynamic creative hub that fosters design collaboration, focus and innovation. During Doors Open, you can explore their projects and gain insight into their design process, sparking conversations about the importance and impact of thoughtful design.

This office was built from scratch by the label in 2017. The unique location features an event space, a record store and a management office. Many of the internal features are repurposed pieces designed specifically for the space. Staff will offer guided tours where visitors can view label and artist awards, platinum- and gold-certified albums, and the unique interior design.

During Doors Open, visitors to DTAH will experience the history of a beautifully renovated modern building in the heart of downtown Toronto. This leading landscape architecture, architecture and urban design firm will offer tours where you can learn how DTAH continues to shape the city through projects like the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion, Evergreen Brick Works and Artscape Wychwood Barns.