As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the CN Tower’s Lower Observation Level recently underwent a $21-million renovation focused on improving accessibility, interactivity, and visitor engagement.
Positioned 342 metres above ground, the Lower Observation Level had not been reimagined since the building first opened in 1976. Following a competitive design-build competition in 2021, Toronto-based architects Superkül and construction crew Boszko & Verity set out to reimagine the interior offerings and exterior observation deck, achieving a more functionable space within the confines of the floor’s existing footprint.
To start, the design team reflected on the efficiency and utility of the outdoor space. “Previous to our renovation, the entire perimeter of the level was open air,” says Will Elsworthy, principal at Superkül. Temperature fluctuations, high winds, and a variety of weather patterns meant that the observation deck was inaccessible for large portions of the year. “We were tasked with reimagining that perimeter and looking at the possibility of making it more usable year-round.” The original steel caging — once a necessary but visually intrusive safety feature — was removed, and in its place, Superkül added a custom perimeter enclosure system, pairing new panes of sloped glass with fine mesh screens above. The result not only ameliorates sightlines but maintains the open-air sensation and provides improved shelter from the elements.
To fulfill the CN Tower’s request for more interior space, the design team took two-thirds of the old exterior and moved it inwards. The sloped windows are echoed on the interior perimeter, where new “Tilt Zones” called OverView allow patrons to climb up and lean out, taking full advantage of the views through the angled glass panes. Committed to maintaining the Tower’s Gold Certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation, the team worked with consultant Human Space to ensure that the tilt zones were accessible to everyone by installing railings that were well-above weight and bending capacity, and including a special area carved into adjacent benches for those with mobility needs.
“We created these experiences to go to the perimeter, climb up some steps that are smoothly integrated into the benches, lean out, and look over the lake and the city,” says Elsworthy. “Of course, that works well for folks who are able-bodied, but adjacent to those, we created an area where the benches are carved so those in mobility devices or other assisted things can have, maybe not an equivalent experience, but some other type of experience that would be special and unique.”
To further that sense of connection to the city below, the team was also tasked with upgrading the ever-popular glass floor, which was originally constructed of thick glass with metal plates and dividing steel beams. “What we did as part of our renovation was cut out a bunch of that steel structure and replace all of the glass with a thinner glazing assembly,” says Elsworthy. “It’s still super strong — people jump on it, do all kinds of risky things on it all the time — but it’s stronger, and by virtue of being thinner, it’s clearer.”
While the Tilt Zones and glass floor encourage people to look down, the team cleverly introduced a new feature that entices people to look up. The ceiling is made of oak-laminated phenolic panels and fins that serve two purposes: to provide a visually striking “biophilic” effect that evokes the feeling of being in nature, while concealing and providing quick access to the floor’s ductwork, sprinkler system, AV components, Wi-Fi antennas, and security cameras.
Boszko & Verity undertook a 3D scan of the space, which allowed Superkül to envision how the ceiling design should unfold. The resulting fins ebb and flow around the mechanical components, allowing for greater height and better sightlines overall. “It’s an effort to sculpt and shape views from the space to the outside,” says Elsworthy, who explains that each fin can be easily taken down to service the components above. “The ceiling is doing a lot of work and doing it beautifully at the same time.”
The Lower Observation Level now also features interactive displays with assistive listening, panoramic screens, and a 40-ft.-long video wall that serves as the conduit for Artmosphere, a digital exhibition showcasing original works by Canadian and Indigenous artists that “act as another window onto the world,” says Elsworthy, “a window onto art.” Be it representations of the sun by Coast Salish artist Dylan Thomas, a psychedelic landscape painting by Toronto-based artist Enna Kim, or a celebration of fall’s many colours by Mohawk and Cree artist Katie Longboat, Artmosphere brings together diverse identities and perspectives, celebrating Canada’s cultural heritage within the iconic setting of the CN Tower itself.
Art integration continues in the flooring, which is constructed of recycled carpet and fabric fragments, among other materials, and features artwork inspired by Indigenous practices in medicine, healing, and connection to Earth.
Beyond the design upgrades, the transformation of the Lower Observation Level demanded logistical creativity. Apart from a four-storey permanent maintenance gantry that was hoisted into place on cables — marking the first operation of its kind since the CN Tower’s original construction — the entire renovation relied on carefully choreographed transport. “Everything had to come up through the elevators,” says Elsworthy. “Every single slab, all of the glazing, you name it.” This posed significant challenges. For example, a compact mobile crane used to install the glass floor could scarcely fit into the elevator, so a technician accompanied it 113 storeys up with the doors open. Likewise, the large panels of floor-to-ceiling glazing needed to remain intact. Too tall to fit into the elevator, they were also brought up via technician, sitting on top of the elevator in a specially built cradle.
Other notable obstacles included working around visitor access to the building and remaining flexible to Toronto’s unpredictable weather. “Some work couldn’t be done if the winds were too high, for example, or the temperature was too cold,” says Elsworthy. All these constraints required precise coordination and problem-solving, underscoring how building at such heights is as much an exercise in ingenuity as it is in design.
At its core, the renovation of the Lower Observation Level marks an important chapter in the life of the CN Tower. “Buildings need a credits reel,” says Elsworthy. “It takes not only a village, but a small city to build something like this.” More than just an architectural feat, it stands as a symbol of pride and heritage, continuing to inspire and connect people across Canada and beyond.
Team
Design Build Team Lead: Boszko & Verity
Architect: Superkül
Structural + Envelope: Entuitive Consulting Engineers
Mechanical + Electrical: H.H. Angus and Associates
A/V: Branch Audiovisual
Code: LRI Engineering
Wind: RWDI
Heritage: Phillip Goldsmith
Accessibility: Human Space
Photography: Doublespace Photography (unless otherwise noted).
As featured in the May-June 2026 issue of Canadian Interiors magazine.
