Reading the City in Steel and Stone: A Self-Guided Architecture Tour Through Sudbury

You’ve heard of food tours, wine tours, and street art tours. But have you ever gone on an architecture tour?

Architecture isn’t just for design fanatics. Creating your own architecture tour around Sudbury is a great way to make the most of your weekend or travel time. Whether you’re squeezing in an early morning stroll or a late-night ramble or drive, exploring architecture is easy, flexible, and—perhaps best of all—absolutely free!

Why Architecture Is One of the Best Ways to Explore Sudbury

All cities have marvellous gems hiding in plain sight, but if you’re intrigued by architecture, Sudbury has more reason than most to brag about its buildings. These are some of the finest landmarks and historic buildings Sudbury has to offer, many of them clustered within an easy walk in the downtown core.

Need a little inspiration before you start? The nearby McEwan School of Architecture at Laurentian University frequently hosts lectures which are open to the general public.

Queen Anne Style and Big City Vibes: The Moses Block

(Corner of Elgin Street and Durham Street)

If a destination boasts a historic flatiron building, it must be New York, right? Guess again.

Flatirons are triangular buildings, so named because their shape resembles a clothing iron. The Moses Block, as Sudbury’s flatiron is known, is just one of ten such buildings in Canada. Its exact origins are a bit murky, but it was likely built between 1907 and 1915. At that time, building was booming in Sudbury, with many buildings crafted in the Queen Anne Revival style. This style is known for embracing asymmetry, exuberance, and irregularity in its builds. A triangular building would have fit right in!

The Moses Block was originally home to a newspaper stand known as Wolfe’s Bookstore. Today, several public businesses are situated there, so you can easily pop in to check things out.

Natural, Nuanced, and Novel: Place des Arts

(27 Larch Street)

Opened in 2022, Place des Arts is a striking, modern facility, the first of its kind in Northern Ontario. A centre of artistic and cultural excellence and a gathering place for Francophones, this 40,000-square-foot building evokes the city’s rail history through the use of weathering steel (also called corten steel) panels. The panels’ appearance represents the different rock layers found within the Sudbury Basin.

Inside, you’ll find one of the most interesting places in all of Sudbury. You can explore and enjoy the building’s exhibits and unique interior architectural features on a self-guided tour.

A Sleek and Subtle Structure: The Government of Canada Building

(19 Lisgar St)

Not all architectural destinations feature bold facades. The Government of Canada building, a federally recognized heritage property which dates to 1957, has a minimalist, modern design. Parks Canada describes it by saying: “The horizontal massing and elevations are composed of simple, geometrical forms based on a structural grid module. Subtle textural contrasts juxtaposed with lively colours emphasize the differing functional purposes of the materials. The repetitive rhythm of the green-tinted windows and blue spandrel panels is an important visual component of the design.” After admiring the exterior, step inside to take a peek at the gorgeous tiles and the terrazzo flooring.

An Arty Arts and Crafts Creation: The Bell Mansion 

(468 Ramsey Rd)

There are hundreds of historic buildings in Sudbury, but only ten are designated provincial heritage sites.  Luckily, several of them are within walking distance of each other in the downtown core.

Arguably, the most striking and intriguing of them is the Bell Mansion. Approximately a 25-minute walk south of the other sites, this 6,000 square foot Arts and Crafts-style residence is also known as Belrock Mansion and The Gallery. That last moniker is thanks to its most recent resident, The Art Gallery of Sudbury, which was situated there from 1967 to 2023.

This remarkable building got its start as a family home in 1907 when it was constructed with local stone for lumber baron William Joseph Bell and his wife, Katherine. Over the years, it has served many purposes, and it’s currently awaiting its next big act, as it's under new ownership and the structure is being assessed. However, just because it’s empty doesn’t mean it’s not occupied. Bell Mansion is rumoured to be haunted!

Sudbury’s Downtown Heritage Buildings and Historic Sites

Not far away, its fellow heritage buildings include Church of the Epiphany (85 Larch Street) and Sainte-Anne-des-Pins (14 Beech Street). Both houses of worship boast dedicated communities, a long history, and striking interior and exterior details.

There’s a good chance you walked right through another downtown heritage site without even realizing it. Train passengers might not be aware that the Via Rail Station/Canadian Pacific Rail Station (233 Elgin Street) is another designated heritage building.

Creativity, Culture, and Community Landmarks in Sudbury: The Bridge of Nations

(Paris St. Bridge)

Who says that stunning architecture has to be tied to historic buildings—or even buildings at all?

This Bridge of Nations, located on the Paris Street Bridge, is a beautiful example of community-driven architecture. Launched in 2007 to honour Sudbury’s multiculturalism, this project displays 87 flags from different countries and local cultural groups on the bridge, showcasing the city’s legendary diversity. Every corner of the globe, from Antigua to Zimbabwe, is represented, and the bridge has been transformed from an ordinary structure to a striking landmark.

An Iconic Structure Worth the Drive: The Inco Superstack

(18 Rink St)

Good architecture stands out, and for the Inco Superstack, this is true in more ways than one. The 1,250-foot structure is the tallest chimney in the Western Hemisphere and the second tallest in the world. It’s also the second-tallest freestanding structure of any kind in Canada, right after Toronto’s CN Tower. 

It also might not be around for long. It’s currently slated for dismantling in 2029. Grab your photo op now! You can get a good view of the Stack from several locations around the city, including the Copper Cliff neighbourhood, as well as longer-distance views from Moonlight Beach or the Big Nickel. 

A fascinating book, Sudbury Superstack: A Changing Skyline, distributed by the Sudbury Writers' Guild, recounts the stack's history and impact on the community. Read more about it and how to get a copy here. 

Read the City, One Building at a Time

Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply curious about Sudbury’s built environment, this self-guided architecture tour offers a new way to experience the city—through its materials, forms, and stories. From steel and stone to glass and concrete, Sudbury reveals itself when you slow down and look closer.

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