So, you’re looking for the biggest building in Canada. It sounds like a simple question, right? You just look at the skyline, find the tallest thing, and call it a day. But honestly, if you ask five different architects or real estate nerds this question, you’re going to get five different answers.
Size is tricky. Are we talking about the tallest? The one with the most floor space? The one that feels like a small city once you step inside?
For decades, the answer was easy: First Canadian Place in Toronto. It stood as the king of the hill since 1975. But as of 2026, the crown has officially shifted. If you haven't looked at the Toronto waterfront lately, you're missing a massive, glass-clad giant that has fundamentally changed how we define "big" in the Great White North.
The New King: SkyTower at Pinnacle One Yonge
Let's get straight to it. If you want to know the biggest building in Canada by height, you’re looking at SkyTower at Pinnacle One Yonge.
As we hit early 2026, this beast has finally reached its full height. We’re talking about a supertall skyscraper that stretches 351.85 metres (1,154 feet) into the air. To put that in perspective, it’s basically reaching up to shake hands with the main observation pod of the CN Tower.
It has 106 floors. Read that again. One hundred and six.
It’s the first building in Canadian history to break the 100-storey mark. For years, developers were scared of that number, or the economics just didn't work. But Pinnacle International actually did it. It’s not just a bunch of condos, either. It’s a vertical neighborhood. You’ve got a Le Meridien hotel taking up the first dozen floors, nearly 1,000 luxury apartments above that, and views that—on a clear day—probably let you see halfway to New York state.
Why it almost didn't happen
Building the SkyTower was kind of a saga. Originally, it was supposed to be "only" 95 storeys. Then the developers looked at the market and the sheer ambition of other projects (like The One at Yonge and Bloor) and decided to go bigger. They went back to the city, asked for more height, and eventually got the green light to smash the records.
The "Floor Area" Argument: West Edmonton Mall
Wait a minute. If you define "biggest" by how much room you have to walk around inside, a skyscraper is never going to win.
If we are talking about gross floor area, the biggest building in Canada is, and likely always will be, the West Edmonton Mall.
It’s a different kind of "big." While SkyTower goes up, WEM goes out. It covers over 5.3 million square feet. You could fit about 15 SkyTowers inside the West Edmonton Mall and still have room for the waterpark and the skating rink.
Honestly, calling it a "building" feels like an understatement. It's a climate-controlled ecosystem. It has over 800 stores, two hotels, and an indoor lake with a pirate ship. If you’re measuring by sheer mass and the amount of concrete poured, Edmonton takes the win every single time.
The Contenders at a Glance
| Building Name | City | Height (m) | Floors | Claim to Fame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyTower (Pinnacle One Yonge) | Toronto | 351.85 | 106 | Tallest building in Canada |
| The One | Toronto | 308.6 | 85 | Canada's first "supertall" status holder |
| First Canadian Place | Toronto | 298 | 72 | Former king for over 40 years |
| West Edmonton Mall | Edmonton | N/A | 3 | Largest by floor area (5.3M sq ft) |
| Stantec Tower | Edmonton | 250.8 | 66 | Tallest building outside of Toronto |
The Fallen Legend: First Canadian Place
We have to give some respect to the OG. For a huge chunk of your life, if you lived in Canada, First Canadian Place was the undisputed champion. It’s that white, boxy skyscraper in the Financial District with the BMO logo on top.
Completed in 1975, it stands at 298 metres. For nearly half a century, it was the symbol of Canadian corporate power. It’s still massive—over 2.7 million square feet of office space—but in the world of 2026, it’s starting to look a little "short" compared to the new residential supertalls.
There’s a bit of a vibe shift happening. The old "biggest" buildings were all banks and offices. The new ones? They’re where people live. It says a lot about how Toronto has changed from a 9-to-5 business hub to a 24-hour vertical city.
What People Get Wrong About the CN Tower
"But what about the CN Tower?"
I hear this every time. People see that 553-metre needle and think, That’s the biggest building. Technically, it’s not. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (the people who make these rules) classifies the CN Tower as a non-building structure. To be a "building," at least 50% of the height must be occupied floor space. The CN Tower is mostly a hollow concrete shaft with some pods at the top.
So, while it’s the tallest structure, it’s not the biggest building in Canada. Sorry, tourists.
The Race at Yonge and Bloor: The One
You can’t talk about big buildings in 2026 without mentioning The One. This project, designed by the legendary Norman Foster, was supposed to be the first to break the records.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. Financial issues, receivership, and construction delays turned it into a bit of a local drama. But it’s finally there, standing at 308.6 metres. It’s gorgeous, with a bronze-colored exoskeleton that makes it look like it’s wearing a designer suit.
Even though it’s shorter than SkyTower, many architects argue it's the more "significant" building because of the engineering required to support such a massive tower on such a small footprint. It’s basically a masterclass in how to build on a postage stamp.
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Why Does Being the "Biggest" Even Matter?
You might wonder why developers are obsessed with adding an extra five floors or an extra ten metres. It’s not just ego (though there's plenty of that).
- Land Value: In downtown Toronto, land is so expensive that the only way to make money is to go up.
- Prestige: Being the "tallest" or "biggest" attracts global investors. People want to say they live in the highest penthouse in the country.
- Engineering Milestones: These buildings act as "proof of concept" for new materials and wind-resistance technologies. SkyTower, for example, uses a tapered, 12-sided design specifically to handle the brutal winds off Lake Ontario.
How to Experience Canada’s Giants
If you actually want to see the biggest building in Canada for yourself, you’ve got two very different trips to plan.
For the skyscraper experience, head to the foot of Yonge Street in Toronto. Standing at the base of the SkyTower is honestly a bit dizzying. You have to crane your neck so far back you might actually fall over. The area is being transformed into a massive public plaza with a community center and retail space, so it’s becoming a destination rather than just a construction site.
If you want the "biggest" by volume, hop on a flight to Edmonton. Walking through West Edmonton Mall is a workout. You can literally log 10,000 steps without leaving the building. It’s a relic of 80s maximalism that somehow still works today.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Visit
- If you're in Toronto: Check out the Pinnacle One Yonge site at sunset. The way the glass on the SkyTower catches the light from the lake is pretty incredible. If you want a view of it, take the ferry to the Toronto Islands—it’s the best way to see the new scale of the skyline.
- If you're in Edmonton: Don't try to see the whole mall in one day. Focus on one "wing" or visit the World Waterpark, which is still one of the largest indoor wave pools on the planet.
- Watch the skyline: There are already rumors of a "Phase 3" tower at One Yonge that could challenge the SkyTower’s height in the next decade. The race for the biggest building in Canada never truly ends.