Photographer Brendan McNeill has documented the striking juxtaposition between Toronto's historic architecture and the city's current construction boom in his compelling photo series titled "Ten Years Taller." The project captures what McNeill describes as a "curious juxtaposition" that defines the rapidly evolving Canadian metropolis.

Shot throughout Toronto over a three-year period, the series combines intimate close-ups with sweeping wide shots of the city's historic streets alongside major contemporary developments. Notable projects featured include BIG's ambitious King Toronto Residences and extensive ongoing construction along the city's waterfront district.

McNeill, who grew up in a rural environment, experienced significant culture shock when he first moved to Toronto just over a decade ago. However, he has witnessed the city undergo what he describes as a transformation "into something else entirely." The photographer explained his motivation for the series, telling Dezeen: "The initial culture shock between a rural environment and an urban metropolis like Toronto began to transition into something else. I looked at it and I was just like – the development and the rate of development in the city is mind-blowing."

The photographs showcase the intersection of Toronto's diverse neighborhoods and contrasting architectural styles, most notably capturing the dramatic visual tension between traditional brick Victorian townhouses standing adjacent to gleaming glass skyscrapers. McNeill characterizes this urban landscape as an "organized calamity" that reflects the city's complex development patterns.

Joël León Danis, executive director of the non-profit Toronto Society of Architects, views McNeill's work as part of a broader cultural reflection on the city's current development trajectory. "Works like these photographs – it's part of a trend," Danis explained to Dezeen. "All these things have resulted in this weird market where there is a lot of need for housing, yet no one can afford housing. It's forced us to have the discussion of how do we unlock more housing?"

Danis notes that Toronto's current development surge isn't unprecedented in the city's history. He references previous periods of rapid construction, including the numerous residential concrete-slab towers built during the 1960s and the wave of glass towers constructed in the 2000s. The current building boom includes several high-profile projects by internationally renowned architects.

Among the major developments currently underway are skyscrapers designed by Frank Gehry and Foster + Partners, along with the city's first supertall skyscrapers. Massive mixed-use developments such as Bayside and The Well, which feature multiple towers, are also reshaping Toronto's skyline. Many of these ambitious projects are scheduled for completion within the next few years.

Beyond documenting architectural transformation, McNeill's series aims to draw attention to Toronto's ongoing housing crisis. The photographer expresses concern about the broader implications of rapid development on the city's character. "Toronto has turned into somewhat of a sterile, homogenized landscape and it might squeeze out the vibrant, diverse tapestry that once defined Toronto's character," McNeill observed. "There's a bit of tension there, too. This is more conceptual, but that is also something I'm investigating in this work and future work in urban spaces."

The series captures several significant architectural projects currently under construction, including the distinctive tiered King Toronto Residences by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), which represents one of the most visually striking additions to the city's evolving skyline.

Other notable recent projects transforming Toronto's architectural landscape include an addition to the historic St. Lawrence Market designed by British architecture studio RSHP (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners). Additionally, the renovation of the art deco College Park building presents a unique approach to urban development by placing three modern towers atop the existing historic structure.

McNeill's "Ten Years Taller" series serves as both an artistic documentation and a critical examination of urban transformation. Through his lens, the photographer captures not only the physical changes reshaping Toronto but also the social and economic tensions underlying rapid urban development. The work reflects broader questions about housing affordability, architectural heritage preservation, and the balance between growth and community character that many major cities face in the 21st century.

The photographs reveal Toronto as a city in transition, where century-old Victorian architecture exists alongside cutting-edge contemporary design, creating a visual narrative that speaks to both progress and displacement. McNeill's three-year documentation period allows viewers to witness the acceleration of change that has become characteristic of Toronto's urban landscape.

As Toronto continues to grow vertically with increasingly ambitious projects, McNeill's photographic series provides a crucial visual record of this pivotal moment in the city's architectural evolution, raising important questions about the future of urban development and community identity in one of North America's fastest-growing metropolitan areas.