Pinnacle SkyTower at One Yonge, Toronto, Canada

Project Overview

Rising at the point where Yonge Street meets Lake Ontario, the Pinnacle SkyTower forms the tallest component of the Pinnacle One Yonge development, a mixed-use scheme that combines residential, hotel, and public realm uses within a single waterfront site.

At 106 storeys and 351.85 metres, the Pinnacle SkyTower is identified as the tallest building in Canada and the first residential building in North America to reach this height. Its upper floors align in elevation with the main observation level of the CN Tower. The scale of the building places it within a category of residential supertalls that require coordinated architectural, structural, and construction strategies.

How SkyTower anchors the One Yonge development

The tower is one element of the broader Pinnacle One Yonge development, a multi-phase scheme that spans approximately 4.4 million square feet. The five-phase masterplanned community combines residential towers, hotel uses, retail space, and outdoor areas, with additional office buildings planned in later phases, across a site positioned at the southern end of Yonge Street.

It introduces multiple towers and shared spaces, with pedestrian connections and access routes extending through the site towards the waterfront. SkyTower forms part of Phase 2 of the One Yonge development.

Pinnacle SkyTower architectural form and façade design

Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the tower adopts a 12-sided geometry that tapers as it rises, transitioning from a podium base into a slender vertical profile.

The faceted form responds to wind conditions associated with the building’s height, while chamfered corners and a glazed exterior define the envelope. Vertical fins reinforce the reading of height and continuity along the elevation. Curved glazing elements extend the visual relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding city and lake.

Construction systems behind the 106-storey tower

Construction of the tower incorporates climbing formwork and protection systems supplied by PERI, supporting the progression of the structure at supertall scale.

Self-climbing systems are used for the elevator and stair cores, allowing the core to advance floor by floor without continuous reliance on tower crane operations. Façade enclosure systems provide protection against wind and weather at height, while adapting to the tower’s tapering geometry as the floor plates reduce.

Additional systems support shear wall construction and material movement, enabling sequencing that maintains construction activity at the upper levels while limiting exposure of formwork to external conditions.

Structural engineering approach

Structural engineering for the project is undertaken by Jablonsky Ast and Partners. The engineering strategy addresses vertical load transfer and wind forces associated with a residential building of this height. A 700-tonne tuned mass damper is incorporated within the structure to control building movement and improve occupant comfort.

The changing geometry of the tower requires coordination between structural systems and construction methods, particularly as the building transitions from a larger base to a reduced footprint at upper levels.

A mix of residential and hotel uses within the tower

The tower contains 958 residential units alongside the Le Méridien Toronto Pinnacle Hotel. The hotel includes guest rooms and supporting facilities integrated within the lower levels of the tower.

Approximately 80,000ft² of amenity space is distributed within the building, supporting both residential and hotel uses. Interior design is led by Tanner Hill and Associates.

Landscape and public realm integration

Landscape design for the wider development is led by NAK Design Strategies. The scheme incorporates pedestrian routes, outdoor spaces, and connections that extend across the site and towards the waterfront.

The development aligns with the surrounding street network and nearby transport infrastructure, contributing to the evolving urban structure of the Lower Yonge precinct.

Public realm interventions include new pedestrian and cycling routes and modifications to surrounding streets to improve connectivity at ground level.

Project team and contractors involved

The project is developed by Pinnacle International, with architectural design by Hariri Pontarini Architects. Structural engineering is undertaken by Jablonsky Ast and Partners, landscape architecture by NAK Design Strategies, and interior design by Tanner Hill and Associates. Construction systems include formwork and climbing solutions supplied by PERI.