Guest Column: Frank Gehry’s Forma: A True Architectural Landmark on Multiple Levels

DESIGN ARCHITECTURE
December 19, 2025 from guest 590

Guest Column: Frank Gehry's Forma: A true architectural landmark on multiple levels

Today we present a guest post from Hoordad Ghandehari, OAA ICON Architects Inc.

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Forma, the latest addition to the Toronto skyline by the late Frank Gehry, comfortably covers the entire spectrum of what we think of as a landmark. A landmark is more than a visually appealing structure. It is a building that imprints itself on its surroundings and remains unforgettable – regardless of whether it is admired, discussed or polarized. What matters is not unanimous agreement, but recognition: the ability to become entrenched in the collective memory of a city, a neighborhood, or even a single street corner. A landmark “marks” something – its territory, its presence, its identity. It becomes a landmark and a symbol of the place. In general, landmarks can work at different scales.

A close-up of Forma cladding, designed by Gehry Partners for Great Gulf, Dream Unlimited and Westdale Properties

From the perspective of the viewer, landmarks can be understood through three lenses.

City-scale landmarks are those that define or influence a skyline. Their silhouettes can be seen from afar. In Toronto we immediately think of the CN Tower, the Sky Dome, the L Tower, the Marilyn Monroe Towers in Mississauga or the Emerald Park Towers in North York. These buildings don't just rise; They shape the way the city is perceived, photographed and remembered.

A drone view looking northeast at the Rogers Center and CN Tower, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Kotsy

Next are neighborhood-scale landmarks that are recognizable up close. These may not have a dramatic impact on the skyline, but will still remain memorable and distinctive. Examples include River City Phase 3, Picasso on Richmond, 210 Bloor Street West and Exhibit Residences.

Close-up of the Exhibit Residences, image by Marcanadian, UrbanToronto Forum contributor

Finally, there are pedestrian-sized landmarks where the defining qualities can be experienced up close. Think Casa Loma, the Flatiron Building, the Old City Hall, the ROM expansion, or Gehry's own renovation of the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Looking southwest toward the Art Gallery of Ontario, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Flonicky

Most buildings succeed, if at all, on a single level. Some do two. It is extremely rare for a building to simultaneously function as a landmark from a distance, mid-range and at pedestrian level. Frank Gehry's Forma is one of these rare exceptions.

Forma is not just a tall building and not just a striking object in the skyline. It is a project that reshapes Toronto's identity on all three levels – citywide, neighborhood and pedestrian – and each expresses it through its own architectural language. In this way, it embodies the complete definition of a landmark. It is immediately recognizable from a distance, but the closer you get, the more complex the details become and a more intimate conversation begins with the viewer.

Looking southeast at a rendering of the Forma Towers, designed by Gehry Partners for Great Gulf, Dream Unlimited and Westdale Properties

The distinctive silhouette of the two towers – with their carefully coordinated mass and height – can actually be seen from afar and will have a lasting impact on Toronto's skyline. Up close, the changing angles between the volumes and the changing light reflections throughout the day become clear. As one moves around the building, the perception of the towers and the negative space between them constantly changes, giving the architecture a sense of dynamism. It is a considered, flowing composition that conveys a calm sense of movement while maintaining an understated simplicity. Even the windows, viewed as punched openings rather than wide expanses of curtain wall, subtly reference traditional architectural proportions.

Looking northwest at the cladding of Forma's east tower, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Busybeaver

Up close, the towers show a completely different character. The gently undulating stainless steel panels capture and diffuse light, creating changing patterns of shadows and reflections. This tactile, almost hand-crafted quality gives the building a pedestrian-level clearance and offers a richness that is not immediately apparent from a distance.

Close-up of Forma's East Tower cladding, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Khaldoon

Whether monumental or intimate, a true landmark becomes part of a place's identity. It shapes memory and meaning. It stands out – not because it is flawless, but because it is an integral part of how we understand and interact with our environment. And it is in this aspiration, the ability to make a meaningful contribution to a city on multiple levels, that great architecture emerges.

UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more in our database file linked below. If you'd like, you can join the discussion in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the designated area on this page.

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