Toronto Star

Office towers aren't what they used to be. True, they're as tall as ever, if not taller, but now they mean something different – the symbolism has changed. The edifice complex hasn't exactly disappeared, but today it's tempered by the sustainability reflex. Originally, the skyscraper was all about corporate might – mine's bigger than yours. Now it's about doing what's right. There are examples everywhere. In New York, the Bank of America is building the tallest green tower in the world. In Europe, green skyscrapers have been around since the 1980s. Finally, Toronto's getting into the act, and in a big way. After an absence of 10 or 15 years, when the only high-rises built in this city were residential – i.e., condos – the office tower is making a comeback. Last year 180 Queen St. W. was completed, though at 17 storeys it barely qualifies as a tower. And we mustn't forget the SAS Building, 280 King St. E., a mid-rise corporate headquarters notable for its "sustainable" features.