A bunch of iconic Toronto landmarks are about to get dramatic new lighting

A handful of iconic Toronto landmarks are about to get some major upgrades that will help these beloved structures shine to their maximum potential, in quite the literal sense of the term.

It's apparent that beautification efforts have begun in earnest ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games scheduled to take place in Toronto, and some major landmarks in the city are due for a refresh ahead of the big event next summer.

Items before the City's Economic and Community Development Committee and the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place in September detail plans to upgrade lighting on a trio of structures: the Prince Edward (Bloor) Viaduct, Princes' Gates, and the Automotive Building.

The Prince Edward Viaduct spanning the Don Valley was modified with an award-winning structure known as the Luminous Veil in 2003, estimated to have saved over 150 lives since its installation. 

This pedestrian-proof barrier — built in response to the bridge's growing notoriety as a place people in distress chose to end their lives — was further upgraded in 2015 with the addition of LED lighting, though after a decade, the City is seeking to implement an "immediate repair plan  to restore functionality and maintenance activities to the Luminous Veil by June 2026."

The structure's last major upgrade in 2015 — which was also timed ahead of a major international sporting event when Toronto hosted the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games — has aged considerably, and, due to highly-specialized lighting components only produced by limited manufacturers, maintenance of the Veil has been a challenge for the City.

With a project cost estimated at $300,000-$450,000, the City plans to work with the original artist of the Veil, Dereck Revington, "to restore functionality prior to June 2026, in time for Toronto's hosting of the FIFA Men's World Cup."

Repairs include addressing gaps in lighting, replacement and upgrading of deteriorated components and other elements, sprucing up a key Toronto landmark before the city appears on the world stage next year.

Marcanadian

And that's just one of three structures undergoing upgrades.

Over at Exhibition Place, where games will be hosted at BMO Field next June, lighting upgrades are also in the works for the Automotive Building and Princes' Gates at the east end of the Exhibition grounds.

The Exhibition Place Board of Governors will consider an item on Monday seeking to approve a bid to install new coloured LED lighting to illuminate the exterior of these two landmarks.

The Sept. 8 report to the board states, "The proposed coloured LED lighting upgrade project at the Automotive Building and Princes' Gates aims to revitalize and modernize the exterior lighting, addressing both functional and aesthetic needs."

According to the report, existing lighting around the Automotive Building's Art Deco exterior and the archway of Princes' Gates are either missing or beyond their intended service life. 

Jack Landau

These "obsolete" lights would be replaced by modern LEDs that support a full spectrum of colours, with the report noting that upgrades "will allow for dynamic lighting displays that can be customized for different events, seasons, or occasions, enhancing the visual appeal and vibrancy of both landmarks."

Programmability functions, including colour-changing effects, dimming, scheduling, and remote operation, "offering greater versatility in how the lighting is used for various events or public celebrations," are among the many upgrades the Board could implement if the item passes.

Jack Landau

Aside from these aesthetic upgrades — sure to add some visual zest to the FIFA festivities around the Ex grounds — the new lighting would also lower energy consumption and maintenance costs, with a more robust lifespan than the current lighting systems.

The bid comes with a price tag of $341,419.

While only the documents outlining upgrades to the Prince Edward Viaduct specifically mention the FIFA World Cup, the timing, location, and nature of the planned changes at Exhibition Place all could be interpreted as a sign that these aesthetic improvements are being pushed through ahead of the site appearing on televisions and streaming platforms across the world next summer.