Toronto Power Generating Station

Niagara’s High Architectural Style: The Toronto Power Generating Station
Contributed by John Raimondo, MA

7230 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Built: 1906
Architect: E.J. Lennox

The Toronto Power Generating Station in Niagara Falls is one example of high architectural style impacting the built environment beyond the public sphere. It is one of the earliest electrical utility buildings in Canada. The unique geography of Niagara helped shape the area, the exploitation of water power and its built environment. Niagara Falls in particular is the location of several power generating stations, built during the decades preceding the First World War, located along the river to provide electricity to nearby towns and cities. The waterfalls attracted many innovators who sought to harness the power for public benefit. The Toronto Power Station is one that is the most visually impressive.

Located just above Niagara Falls it still makes a stylistic statement and appears unyielding in form. The elaborate power station, with its fluted columns, parapets and ornate friezes illustrate its classical inspiration. The classical motifs, visually impressive, demonstrate a sense of permanence for the building (Canadian Architect, 2019). This ideal, that the building had permanence, is important in the early adaption of neoclassicism in Canada. The genius of Neoclassicism and its application to architecture was that it was able to establish a sense of permanence for buildings and assert a sense of respect. The unusual application of neoclassical design to such an industrial site in Canada is unique, establishing a bold architectural expression that still attracts wonder today.

Completed in 1906 and designed by Toronto architect Edward James Lennox (who also designed the 'old' Toronto City Hall), the Toronto Power Generating Station held eleven turbines that produced 11,000 horsepower each and later upgrades pushed the output to 137,000 horsepower (Opacity, 2011). It was built to supply the Toronto market and it was the first fully Canadian-owned hydroelectric facility (Parks Canada, 2005). The adaptation of the most advanced technologies at the time to a difficult site in a bold way is an important distinction. Lennox designed the station to complement the scenic setting and portray the “power” of hydroelectricity. With its symmetrical colonnaded façade and usage of limestone, it is a daring application of neoclassicism.  It operated from 1906 until 1922 under the Electrical Development Company of Ontario. Ontario Hydro purchased the plant in 1922 and it ceased operation in 1974. (Parks Canada, 2005).

The symmetrical proportions and rectangular design, measuring 132 metres by 30 metres and its imposing neoclassical façade provide heritage value. The two ionic colonnades that flank the heavy ionic central portico are character defining (Parks Canada, 2005). The technical and engineering achievements of this a large-scale building should not be understated. The Toronto Power Generating Station was an important site of the development of technology, engineering and industry in Ontario and the rest of Canada. The building’s function and heritage character define its value. For one, the prominent location at the side of the Niagara River directly above Niagara Falls demonstrates a grand-gesture towards technology and industry. Moreover, the river-front location of the building creates a “picturesque” setting as the neoclassical design delineates itself as a component of the scenic composition. The symmetrical massing, landscaped parkland, steel-frame construction, limestone usage and heavy Ionic portico details  (See Figure 2) further show why the station is a National Historic Site of Canada (Parks Canada, 2005).

Despite the satisfying classical proportions and neoclassical details of the Toronto Power Generating Station, the functionality of the building was important. Inside, there are superb finishes, regularly placed windows, grand foyer with marble walls and floor tiles, detailed cornices and overall symmetrical configuration showcase how the neoclassical style translated into a functional and appealing work space (Parks Canada, 2005). The handsome entrance and simply decorated offices and public areas display a sense of splendor and delight in great technological feats.

Functional design was still true in form, as the bold exterior hides the complicated bowels of the station’s engineering. The industrial brick of the generator room, submerged dam, penstocks, and wheel put housing turbines along with vast tunnels and power house generators round up a view into the complicated yet important interior (Parks Canada, 2005).

Until newer power ventures are discovered, a new sense of style might emerge in the built environment of these structures. The neoclassical application to a power generating station was courageous. Yet, its style and design has stood the test of time. As new technologies of the future emerge, so will new forms of architecture and applications of style. Like those who wished to harness the power of Niagara Falls, future designers can attempt to show the public what the power of aesthetic architecture combined with technology can do to enrich lives.

The untapped industrial heritage in Niagara Falls has exciting potential for future adaptations. With the Niagara Parks Commission acquiring the Toronto Power Generation Station in 2007, the question remains of its possible futures. Since then it has been the focus of many assessments in order to consider its adaptive reuse options. Niagara Parks is currently bringing another historic Niagara plant, the Canadian Niagara Power Station, under adaptive reuse renovations to bring a new landmark multi-faceted attraction experience in late 2021. This may inject a resurgent sense of purpose to the older Toronto Power Generation Station. Perhaps the future fate of the Station will rest on technologies of tomorrow, much like the pioneers of yesterday, to bring back the glory associated with power generation and aesthetic architecture. 

References

Canadian Architec t, “De-Generation: Decades of decline in Ontario’s electric power architecture.” 2019. Accessed May 2020 from:  www.canadianarchitect.com

Cragoe, Davidson Carol. How to Read Buildings: a Crash Course in Architectural Styles . Ivy Press, United Kingdom, 2008.

Kalman, Harold. A History of Canadian Architecture – Volume 1 . Oxford: Oxford University, 1994.

Magrill, Barry. A Commerce of Taste: Church Architecture in Canada, 1867-1914. McGill-Queens University Press, 2012.

Opacity - Urban Ruins . “Toronto Power Company Generating Station.” 2011. Accessed June 2020 from opacity.us

Parks Canada. “ Toronto Power Generating Station National Historic Site of Canada.” 2005. Accessed June 2020 from: www.pc.gc.ca