For those with an interest in Toronto buildings, architecture and history, Doors Open Toronto — presented by Great Gulf Homes, is one of the most exciting times of the year. The annual celebration, now in its 15th year, gives the public access to some of Toronto's most important and iconic structures, many of which are not normally open to the general public.
 
The theme for this year's celebration is Secrets and Spirits… Exploring the Mysteries Behind the Door, and Doors Open has now released its full list of new and returning buildings, as well as an exciting speakers series, city-wide walking tours and special programming for the 2014 celebration. The 15th annual weekend celebration of architecture takes place on Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th, and will offer the public rare access to more than 155 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across Toronto. Since its inception in 2000, Doors Open Toronto has resulted in more than two million visits to nearly 600 unique locations across the city. It has become Canada's largest Doors Open event and one of the three largest Doors Open events in the world.
 

Interior of Commerce Court North from Doors Open 2013, image by Jack Landau



On May 24th at the new Fort York Toronto Library Branch, part of Context Development's Library District Condos project, audiences can hear six influential architects speak on Redesigning Toronto, a Pecha Kucha-style talk discussing the architectural and urban planning of Toronto.
 

Fort York Public Library, image by Forum member rdaner



On May 25 at Harbourfront Centre, audiences can hear renowned urban designer Ken Greenberg reflect on Harbourfront Centre: A 40-year Legacy of Transforming the Toronto Waterfront.
A new installation for this year, Great Gulf presents 'Utilities' by artist Michael Cook at Great Gulf's Yonge + Rich Presentation Centre. This exhibit features photographs of underground infrastructure, including the tunnels, sewers, drains and waterways that lie beneath our city, out of sight and reach to the average passerby.

Yonge+Rich presentation centre, image by Jack Landau


Toronto City Hall will be a hotspot during the Doors Open Toronto weekend. Visitors can expect access to key locations such as the 27th floor observation deck, the council chamber and the Mayor's Office, plus special exhibits and activities, including:

• [murmur], the documentary oral-history project conveying the emotional attachment citizens have to Toronto
• Exposed Toronto, an exhibition of photographs inspired by this year's program theme 
• My City Hall Mystery, a family-friendly scavenger hunt leading to key locations in City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square.

City Hall East Tower Observation Deck from Doors Open 2013, image by Jack Landau


This year's Doors Open Toronto also presents free walking tours. Sponsored by the University of Toronto, the city-wide tours are aligned with the event theme and focus on secrets, spirits and mysteries. This year's tours include:

• The Ghosts and Spirits of the Historic Distillery District 
• The Spirit of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse at Toronto Harbour 
• The Spirits of Exhibition Place, including paranormal hotspots 
• Communing with the Spirits? Doubt and Belief in Toronto the Good 
• Mount Pleasant Cemetery: Where Soldiers Rest in Peace 
• The Layers of Leaside Tour 
• Village of Islington ARTwalk and Trolley Tour 
• Guild Park: Where Art Meets Culture 
• The Mysteries of the University of Toronto.

Full program details, including a complete list of new and returning buildings, walking tour registration and information about talks are available at the Doors Open website: http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen.