No building in Mississauga turns heads quite like the Absolute World Towers. Rising 56 and 50 storeys at the corner of Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road West — just steps from Square One — these two residential skyscrapers are instantly recognizable for their sinuous, hourglass-like form that twists organically by up to eight degrees per floor. Within days of their design being announced, locals dubbed them the ‘Marilyn Monroe Towers,’ a nickname that has long outlasted the official name.
The towers were designed by Beijing-based MAD Architects — led by founder Ma Yansong — who won an international design competition in 2004. Completed in 2012 as the final phase of the five-tower Absolute City Centre development, the pair were named Best Tall Building in the Americas by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and won the prestigious Emporis Skyscraper Award the same year. In 2025, they gained further international recognition when they appeared on the cover of the Drake and PartyNextDoor collaborative album, introducing the Mississauga skyline to a global audience.
Because they are residential buildings, the interiors are not publicly accessible — but the towers reward visitors who simply stop to look. From street level, the continuous wrap-around balconies create a mesmerizing optical effect as the buildings rotate against the sky. At night, when lit, they become an even more dramatic part of the cityscape. The best vantage points are from the green spaces and plaza areas around Celebration Square and Square One, where you can take in both towers together.
A visit to the Marilyn Monroe Towers pairs naturally with everything else in Mississauga’s downtown core — Square One, Celebration Square, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, and the Living Arts Centre are all within easy walking distance. This is the kind of landmark that makes for a great photo stop on any Mississauga itinerary, and a compelling reminder that Canada’s sixth-largest city has an architectural identity entirely its own.
Practical Visitor Info
Address:
50 & 60 Absolute Avenue (at Hurontario St & Burnhamthorpe Rd W), Mississauga, ON
Hours:
Exterior viewable 24/7. Grounds are public. Interior is private — residential only.
Admission:
Free to view from exterior.
Getting There:
Walking distance from Square One and City Centre Transit Terminal. Parking at Square One Shopping Centre.
Nearby:
Square One Shopping Centre, Celebration Square, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Living Arts Centre
Best photography: golden hour and after dark when the towers are lit. Best vantage points: Celebration Square plaza and the green space along Burnhamthorpe Rd W.
