WilkinsonEyre's CIBC Square: A Landmark Vision for Toronto's Skyline
London-based architecture firm WilkinsonEyre has officially completed CIBC Square, one of the most ambitious mixed-use developments in Canadian history. Located in Toronto's rapidly evolving South Core financial district, the project comprises two soaring office towers connected by a remarkable elevated park suspended above one of the city's busiest active rail corridors. The completion of CIBC Square marks a defining moment not only for Toronto's urban landscape but for contemporary architecture across North America.
The development, commissioned by Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines, represents over a decade of planning, engineering ingenuity, and architectural ambition. With the final tower now complete and the connecting sky park open to the public, CIBC Square stands as a powerful example of how modern cities can integrate green public space, commercial infrastructure, and transport connectivity into a single, cohesive urban experience.
Two Towers, One Unified Development
CIBC Square is composed of two distinct yet visually harmonious glass towers. The first tower, located at 81 Bay Street, reached completion in 2021 and rises approximately 49 storeys above street level. The second and taller tower at 141 Bay Street has now been completed, topping out at around 50 storeys. Together, the two buildings deliver roughly 3 million square feet of Class-A office space, making CIBC Square one of the largest commercial real estate developments in Canada.
Both towers feature sleek, high-performance glass facades designed to maximise natural light while meeting rigorous sustainability benchmarks. The towers are oriented and articulated to reduce solar gain and optimise energy efficiency, supporting their pursuit of LEED Platinum certification — one of the highest standards for sustainable building design in the world.
CIBC Bank, Canada's fifth-largest bank, serves as the anchor tenant across both towers, consolidating thousands of employees in a state-of-the-art campus environment at the heart of Toronto's downtown core.
The Elevated Park: Engineering Above the Rails
Perhaps the most extraordinary element of CIBC Square is the elevated park that links the two towers at the sixth-floor level. Spanning the active Metrolinx rail corridor below — one of the busiest commuter rail lines in Canada — the park is an engineering achievement of the highest order. Constructing a publicly accessible green space directly above live rail infrastructure required precision planning, structural ingenuity, and extremely careful coordination with transit authorities.
The park stretches approximately 100 metres between the two towers and features mature trees, planted gardens, seating areas, a children's play zone, and open lawns designed for both quiet relaxation and public programming. Rather than functioning as a private amenity reserved for building tenants, the elevated park is open to all members of the public, reinforcing WilkinsonEyre's commitment to inclusive urban design.
The structure supporting the park uses a sophisticated transfer system that channels loads away from the rail corridor below, ensuring the safety of both the park above and the trains beneath. The result is a seamless experience for visitors — there is little indication from above that one of Canada's busiest rail lines runs directly underfoot.
Connecting Toronto's Transit and Urban Fabric
CIBC Square's location adjacent to Union Station — Canada's busiest transit hub — was not incidental. The development has been deliberately integrated into Toronto's broader transit network, with direct underground connections to Union Station's train, subway, and bus services. This connectivity positions CIBC Square as a true transit-oriented development, reducing car dependency and making the complex easily accessible to commuters and visitors arriving from across the Greater Toronto Area.
The development also contributes to the ongoing activation of Toronto's South Core, a neighbourhood that has transformed dramatically over the past two decades from a largely industrial and rail-yard district into one of Canada's most dynamic urban quarters. The presence of CIBC Square, with its public realm improvements and elevated green space, further accelerates that transformation and sets a new benchmark for mixed-use development in the region.
Sustainability at the Core of the Design
Sustainability is embedded throughout CIBC Square, from the structural strategy to the landscaping of the elevated park. WilkinsonEyre designed the towers with optimised floor plates to reduce the need for artificial lighting, while high-performance building envelopes minimise energy consumption. Advanced building management systems monitor energy and water use in real time, allowing continuous optimisation of performance.
- Both towers are targeting LEED Platinum certification, the highest tier of the globally recognised green building standard.
- The elevated park incorporates native and climate-resilient plant species suited to Toronto's variable climate.
- Rainwater harvesting systems collect runoff from the park and rooftop surfaces for use in irrigation and building systems.
- The development's transit integration significantly reduces car trips to the site, cutting transport-related carbon emissions.
- Extensive cycling infrastructure, including secure bike storage and end-of-trip facilities, encourages active commuting.
WilkinsonEyre's Growing International Portfolio
The completion of CIBC Square further cements WilkinsonEyre's reputation as one of the world's leading architecture firms for large-scale, technically complex projects. The London-based practice is known for iconic works such as the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Maggie's Cancer Care Centre in Oxford, and multiple major university buildings across the UK. CIBC Square demonstrates the firm's ability to operate successfully at an international scale, delivering architecture that is technically rigorous, publicly spirited, and visually compelling.
A New Benchmark for Urban Architecture
CIBC Square is more than a pair of office towers — it is a reimagining of what large-scale commercial development can look like when architects, developers, and urban planners share a commitment to public value. By weaving together office space, green infrastructure, transit connectivity, and public realm activation into a single integrated project, WilkinsonEyre and its collaborators have produced a development that genuinely enriches the city around it.
As Toronto continues to grow and intensify, CIBC Square offers a compelling model for future development: one where the sky is not just a backdrop for corporate ambition, but a place where people can walk among trees, breathe fresh air, and experience the city from an entirely new perspective.