Union Station – A Magnificent Example of Beaux-Arts Architecture

1920's - The north facade of Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast
1920’s – The north facade of Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast

Union Station is located at ‪65-71 Front St W, bounded by Bay St and York St, in downtown Toronto.

Previous Union Stations

Union Station, Toronto’s third, opened in 1927. The previous two Union Stations were also located on Front St; however, they were between York and Simcoe Streets and faced the water. The first was in existence from 1858 to 1873, while the second was in use from 1873 until 1927. Planners turned the entrance of the new station towards the City since the downtown was growing.

The Architecture of Toronto’s Beautiful Train Station

The station was a shared terminal of Canadian Pacific Railway and Grand Trunk Railway. The architects who designed the sweeping Beaux-Arts style gem included Montreal-based Ross & MacDonald as well as Hugh Jones and John Lyle. Construction of what is considered one of Canada’s finest examples of classical Beaux-Arts architecture began in 1913 but was delayed due to World War I.

2021 - The Great Hall and its grand coffered ceilings, inside Union Station
2021 – The Great Hall and its grand coffered ceilings, inside Union Station

The exterior is clad with limestone, rising the equivalent of 7 stories from the base. There’s a raised attic covered by a hipped roof in the centre block. The main entrances are behind 22 columns. The adjoining wings have flat-headed windows decreasing in height each storey. The end pavilions have hipped roofs and oversized round-arched entrances.

On the interior, the Great Hall features vaulted, tiled and coffered ceilings, barrel-vaulted windows, marble floors, substantial round-arched openings, and carved-in-stone walls are the names of the cities once serviced by the railways. There are stairs and a ramp leading to the concourses.

Throughout the building, there are original finishes, fixtures and hardware.

Heritage Status & Union Station Today

1926 - Union Station on Front St W, looking southwest
1926 – Union Station on Front St W, looking southwest

This iconic jewel became a National Historic Site of Canada in 1975. The City acquired the property in 2000.

On a regular day, over 300,000 people pass through Union Station to commute on GO trains, buses, TTC subway and UP Express.

Visit ‪the Union Station website‬ for more history and details on the now glass-covered moat (2019), the beautiful West Wing waiting area with the oversized skylight, the SkyWalk, the train shed, shops, food vendors and more.

Union Station Photos

1920's - The north facade of Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast
1920’s – The north facade of Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast
1966 - Union Station from Front St W & University Ave, looking southeast
1966 – Union Station from Front St W & University Ave, looking southeast
2022 - Looking southeast towards Union Station from Front St W and York St
2022 – Looking southeast towards Union Station from Front St W and York St
2021 - The Great Hall and its grand coffered ceilings, inside Union Station
2021 – The Great Hall and its grand coffered ceilings, inside Union Station
2020 - Entrance to the trains, inside Union Station
2020 – Entrance to the trains, inside Union Station
2020 - The west side of the Great Hall, inside Union Station
2020 – The west side of the Great Hall, inside Union Station
2021 - Looking towards the Great Hall, inside Union Station
2021 – Looking towards the Great Hall, inside Union Station
2020 - One of two main north entrances inside Union Station
2020 – One of two main north entrances inside Union Station
2021 - A corridor at Union Station
2021 – A corridor at Union Station
2021 - A doorway in a corridor of Union Station
2021 – A doorway in a corridor of Union Station
2021 - A phone booth and seating inside Union Station
2021 – A phone booth and seating inside Union Station
2021 - World War 1 Commemoration plaque in Union Station
2021 – World War 1 Commemoration plaque in Union Station
2020 - Clock at Union Station
2020 – Clock at Union Station
2020 - Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast
2020 – Union Station on Front St W, looking southeast
1918 - Construction progress showing the north-facing side of the exterior of Union Station, looking east
1918 – Construction progress showing the north-facing side of the exterior of Union Station, looking east
1917 - Construction progress at the northwest corner and front facade of Union Station
1917 – Construction progress at the northwest corner and front facade of Union Station
1980's - Union Station on Front St at Bay St, looking west
1980’s – Union Station on Front St at Bay St, looking west
1926 - Union Station on Front St W, looking southwest
1926 – Union Station on Front St W, looking southwest
1918 - Construction progress showing the north-facing side of the exterior of Union Station from a high vantage point, looking southwest
1918 – Construction progress showing the north-facing side of the exterior of Union Station from a high vantage point, looking southwest
1916 - Construction progress showing the structural steel framing for Union Station with previous (second) Union Station in the background, looking southwest
1916 – Construction progress showing the structural steel framing for Union Station with previous (second) Union Station in the background, looking southwest
1980's - Union Station and the Royal York Hotel at Front & York Sts, looking east
1980’s – Union Station and the Royal York Hotel at Front & York Sts, looking east
1986 - Aerial view of Union Station and the Royal York Hotel, looking northwest
1986 – Aerial view of Union Station and the Royal York Hotel, looking northwest
1949 - Royal York Hotel and Union Station on Front St W, looking east
1949 – Royal York Hotel and Union Station on Front St W, looking east
1932 - A streetcar in front of Union Station on Front St, looking southeast
1932 – A streetcar in front of Union Station on Front St, looking southeast
1930 - Traffic jam near Union Station at Front & Bay Sts, looking southwest
1930 – Traffic jam near Union Station at Front & Bay Sts, looking southwest
1931 - Union Station (on right) and the Royal York Hotel (on left) on Front St, looking east
1931 – Union Station (on right) and the Royal York Hotel (on left) on Front St, looking east
1923 - Ticket wickets and lobby in Great Hall of Union Station
1923 – Ticket wickets and lobby in Great Hall of Union Station
1923 - Ticket wickets in the lobby of the Great Hall in Union Station
1923 – Ticket wickets in the lobby of the Great Hall in Union Station
1923 - Waiting room in Union Station
1923 – Waiting room in Union Station
1916 - The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking northwest
1916 – The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking northwest
1915 - Excavation for Union Station with Queen's Hotel in the background, looking northeast
1915 – Excavation for Union Station with Queen’s Hotel in the background, looking northeast
1915 - Excavation for Union Station with Queen's Hotel in the background, looking northeast
1915 – Excavation for Union Station with Queen’s Hotel in the background, looking northeast
1911 - British immigrants standing on the Bridge of Sighs from previous (second) Union Station to Simcoe St
1911 – British immigrants standing on the Bridge of Sighs from previous (second) Union Station to Simcoe St
1907 - The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking east
1907 – The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking east
1873 - The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking northwest (Toronto Public Library e1-24c)
1873 – The previous (second) Union Station on Front St W, between York & Simcoe Sts, looking northwest (Toronto Public Library e1-24c)
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