WelcomeThere's nothing like the real thing, but we wanted to provide at least a quick peek of some of the activities and special attractions that can be found on each floor of 401 Richmond. Sorry we can't take you inside the studios, but check out the Tenant Listing to see who's here and what they do. You can also get a better look at the architecture and gardens by visiting pages dedicated to those subjects.
In the lobby at 401 Richmond you can find information on the history of the building when it was home to the Macdonald Manufacturing Company, copies of the 401 Richmond Update Newsletter, and our tenant directory. The main floor boasts nine galleries (there are twelve in total) and access to the beautiful interior courtyard. Just around the corner from the main lobby you can stop by The Roastery Coffee House for a coffee or a bite to eat. This is a great place to hop on the glass elevator and catch a view of the interior section of the building. You can also drop by the Management Office in Studio 111.
If you take the stairs you can admire Jane Jacobs Portrait by John Scott and Deborah Waddington on the second floor landing, and get your first glimpse of the stunning plants that live in the sunny stairwell. On the second floor you can find a variety of creative studios: visual artists, research scientists, sculptors, clothing designers, not-for-profit organizations, internet consultants and signmakers to name a few. The glass corridor that connects the north and south arms of the building, referred to as the "skywalk" can be visited from the second floor and provides an excellent view of the entire building. The building was constructed in four stages over twenty-four years and you can see the changes in brick colour and window type from this location.
The third floor also has a "skywalk" that takes you to the south side of the building where you can see the original skylights that poke through the roof of the building (only the north and west side of the building has a fourth floor) and are often filled with hanging plants. There is a dynamic collection of art in the halls and another exciting mix of tenants and uses including: painters, writers, photographers, designers, film production, magazine publishing and videomaking.
The fourth floor has wider than average halls and a terrific tenant mix including a translator, arts advocates, a milliner, energy therapists, deisgners, and an independent video distributor. This is also where you can access 401 Richmond's gorgeous 9,000 square foot roof garden complete with tables and chairs for a comfortable visit. The garden has a mix of trees and shrubs, a huge variety of annuals, many started from seed in the forty foot greenhouse, and a pergola lining one side of the deck that provides a happy home to a selection of ferns and fuschias. There is also a new extensive green roof on the east end of the rooftop that can be admired from the cedar deck.
The basement at 401 provides the perfect space for a spanish dance company, music + recording studios, darkrooms, a holography lab, and artists' studios. There is also bike parking in the basement.
Group tours can be arranged by contacting Erin MacKeen at 416.595.5900 x25 or email.
You can also catch a live tour of the building at the annual Doors Open Toronto event in May. Visit the Special Events page of our site for more information.
