Tag Archives: architecture

20160306. Toronto’s 1927 Canadian Westinghouse Building has donned an exoskeleton.

20160306. The 1927 Canadian Westinghouse Building has donned anThis is a great example of the Commercial Style Architecture, also known as Chicago Style as this form was developed in Chicago after the 1871 fire. It’s metal skeleton framing was a new development allowing for buildings of greater height, more floor space and maximum light and ventilation as opposed to the load-bearing brick buildings that came before it. This building has Classical detailing and terra cotta trim – a rare combination in Toronto.

Although heritage-designated, property owners are allowed to develop on site. The building’s North and West faces are to be incorporated into the King Blue Condos (48 and 44 storeys) designed by Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects and developed by the Greenland Group. This condominium comes with a Section 37 payment of $1.25 million for public amenities.

20160305. Rack House D, Building 42 at the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, a heritage-designated National Historic Site in Toronto.

20160305. Rack House D, Building 42 at the Gooderham and Worts DThis is a 6-storey masonry warehouse building that was used to store barrels of alcohol. Designed by David Roberts Jr and constructed between 1842-1851, it was built where the residence of James Gooderham Worts once stood. Archaeological evidence of this residence may survive underneath the building. Thanks goes to a Heritage Impact Assessment report by ERA Architects for the above information.

20160302. Toronto’s modern classical 1953 decommissioned Commissioners St Incinerator building.

20160302. Toronto’s modern classical 1953 decommissioned CommiAn excellent example of Modern Classical design with stone detailing and varied fenestration, the incinerator opened in 1955 with the capacity to burn 900 Imperial tons per day. It was closed in 1988 after a Department of Public Health reported that it generated dioxin and other carcinogenic chemicals. It now functions as a waste transfer station.

20160225. Toronto’s 1972 brutalist Grand Hotel may be redeveloped into a 45 storey tower.

20160225. Toronto's 1972 brutalist Grand Hotel may be redevelopeERA Architects conducted the heritage impact statement. In short the building is not heritage-listed, not in a Heritage Conservation District and its height is not out of character with coming development. Amexon Development and CORE Architects Inc are behind the proposal.

20160218. Bye Hilton Garden Inn (200 Dundas E), hello Dundas Square Gardens (condos).

20160218. Bye Hilton Garden Inn (200 Dundas E), hello Dundas Squ

The hotel was originally a mid-century modernist office building with some redeeming elements as shown in the image below from the 1960’s. Thanks to Chuckman’s Photos on WordPress (https://chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com/).

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