Atop the tower of the Central Terminal sits an octagonal “crown”, regally adorned with 8 cement fleur-de-lis’. Directly below, the 16th floor (although 18 stories above concourse level) utility room is surrounded by 8 steel door exits leading to 8 small balconies, each offering a distinct and breathtaking view, 271 feet above ground, of the surrounding area (trackside, the airport, the lake, the city, Niagara Falls etc.). On a clear day, Toronto’s skyline is visible from the northmost balcony.
Contrary to reports in a recent Buffalo News article, the terminal never had an “observation deck’, and this spartan utility room was never designed to be a public space. There are no immediate plans to offer tours to the top of the tower. Access will continue to be limited to those members of the CTRC who need to perform regular building maintenance.
