In the early 20th century, the Robertson Building (c.1913, Architects Denison and Stephenson) housed the James Robertson Company – the largest distributors of plumbing and sanitary fixtures in Canada.
20140203. Bloor Collegiate Institute demonstrates proportionality. Minimal Aesthetic #25.
20140202. TTC’s new Dufferin Station west-side entrance in Toronto.
This design provides a larger space to wait indoors for your bus but the single set of sliding doors and the narrow staircase will act as bottlenecks during rush hour. What do you think of the design?
20140201. This Enbridge utility bridge over the Don River (S of Queen St, Toronto) contains a 30” gas main.
Under severe flooding conditions, this concrete bow-swing arch bridge would be partially submerged and cause a damming effect, impeding water flow. As part of the low Don rehabilitation, the concrete siding may need to be replaced with a wire mesh arrangement.
20140131. Firefighters battle blaze at vacant Church on Dufferin north of Bloor in Toronto 3 hours after arriving.
20140130. Expropriated. Gutted. But no development application. 38-40 Dundas St E, Toronto, once an Hakim Optical.
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20140129. Condensed moisture on vestibule. Minimal Aesthetic #24.
This entrance is in David Crombie Park in Toronto. I believe it leads to a tunnel that passes under the Esplanade and connects to Market Lane Public School across the street. Can anyone verify this?
20140128. Working in construction can be a balancing act at the future Queen Richmond Centre West in Toronto.
20140127. The 1873-built John Irwin House sits on stilts while the Karma Condos are developed around it.
These concrete columns were poured, a concrete platform was built on top and then this heritage house was moved from the northwest corner of the lot to the southeast.
20140126. The Hospital for Sick Children Atrium (1993) in Toronto is reminiscent of Ontario Place .
20140125. Corrugated Aluminum Exit. Minimal Aesthetic #23.
20140124. The interior of the newly opened MaRS Centre Phase 2 atrium. University and College, Toronto.
Mars 2 features a 62 foot high skylit atrium and LEED Gold certification. Designed by B+H Architects and developed by Alexandria.
20140123. The Art Gallery of Ontario’s latest addition dwarfs its very first building. From Grange Park, Toronto.
The Georgian manor was built in 1817 and is the oldest brick house in Toronto. It was bequeathed to the Art Museum of Toronto in 1910 and became the Art Gallery of Ontario. The latest addition was designed by Frank Gehry and completed in 2008.
20140122. OCAD University’s Sharp Centre for Design (Toronto) is a box on legs, 26m above ground (Alsop Architects, 2004).
From the OCAD website: The remarkable table-top superstructure, that takes the form of a parallelepiped (9m high, 31m wide and 84m long), with striking black and white pixellated skin, stands 26 metres above the ground on 12 multi-coloured legs.
20140121. A new view emerges temporarily as a building comes down and another goes up.
The impressive 1951 modern limestone building at Wellington and Scott (Toronto) was demolished to make way for a 58-storey condominium. At least the facade of the old building will be restored to close to its original form.
To see the original building, go to http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2013/10/demolition-proceeding-concert-properties-88-scott.
20140120. A cellphone tower and 2 billboards crown a tiny apartment building at 1042 Sheppard Ave W, Toronto.
Would you live here? Perks include the Downsview Subway Station next door and a Telus tower right above you.
20140119. Zooming in on the Waterpark Place towers in Toronto.
20140118. Two windows in a 154-year-old stone wall. Minimal Aesthetic #22.
This wall belongs to the Stone Distillery in the Distillery District of Toronto. It was constructed in 1860 with Kingston limestone.
20140117. The 519 Church Street Community Centre in Toronto – an old building with a modern addition.
This building was originally a 1906 addition (Architect Edwin Babington) to the Granite Curling Club. In 1913 the main building burned down leaving this addition. In 2004, the original addition received an additional addition – the Salah J. Bachir Wiing (Architects Kohn Shnier).
20140116. Rejuvenating the Royal York Hotel.
20140115. A yellow pipe detour. Minimal Aesthetic #21.
Any idea why a natural gas pipe would be installed like this? The rest of the line follows the grade of the ramp.
20140114. The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal ticket booths at sunset in Toronto.
20140113. The Toronto Island Ferry Docks opened in 1971.
In 1918, after infilling the lake, the docks were relocated to just west of the current site. They were then moved to the current site to make way for the Harbour Square Condominiums.. Recently, the docks were renamed the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to honour the late federal NDP leader.
20140112. In the 1920s, 225 Richmond St. W was the Gelber Brothers Wholesale Woollens & Yard Goods warehouse.
20140111. The stylish stairwells at Toronto’s Skywalk and future Union Pearson Express Station.
