Thanks C-Mac, It’s more complicated than I expected.

I feel a bit like the classroom dunce for asking but... what is the massive rectangular platform that is resting on the blue beams in the middle of the floor plate. Is it an elevator shaft? It takes up nearly a third of the entire floor area. Seems like a lot of space just for elevators.

Somehow this half-ass “revitalization” won an award. Go figure. I gave up on NPS and the grimy state of city hall’s exterior many many years ago. The photo posted by Milkycontent says it all. Yeesh, our most prominent public space too.

I think they succeeded. I should mitigate my previous post though by mentioning the excellent job done on the surrounding sidewalks and plaza. Well done!

Glass box on stilts. Why bother with interesting details, textures, and contrast when you can simply reflect the sky and surrounding buildings. It's Toronto' version of covering a boring building in ivy. I know it's a courthouse but... yeesh, can we have some inspiration?

I caught a few grab shots of some stored cladding while walking past the site today. It's not as brassy in color as the renderings suggest but they do have a nice warm grey patina that looks much better than the standard drab grey.

Great area to live in. Indigent men's shelters, druggies, panhandlers, petty crime, ugly architecture (Moss Park) and a general sense of despair. Sign me up! Sorry about the sarchasm but I gave up on the east side of downtown many many years ago. This is totally the result of City Hall...

Rejected black slabs from Stonehenge? At least they're recycling.

Thank you Khaldoon. Soon I’ll know enough to build my own tower.

I’de like to add another question while we’re discussing structural methods. The floor plate notches in each of the corners don’t have any rebar protruding from their edges. I don’t understand how the notches will attach to the small slabs when they are poured. I know they will be braced on the...

Thank you Khaldoon. Looks like a whole mess of stuff is slated for that area. Complicated construction. Lot’s of fun to watch.

Re: ugly utility infrastructure. Indeed, Toronto Hydro is no friend to our public spaces. Unsightliness is all they know.

I don’t understand what’s happening in the large central area with the plywood. It looks too large for elevator shafts. Is it an atrium for the hotel floors? I’m lost. I’d appreciate it if anyone could explain what it is. Thanks

Don’t worry Amare, T H will fix their mess with a nice asphalt patch.

Thank you all for the reply to my question. The photo really helps explain how the column sections are attached to each other. I’m guessing that they are bolted together because, as mentioned previously, they can then be torqued to a specific amount and bolting is stronger than welding in this case.

Can anyone explain how the rebar sections of the super columns are attached to each other. There are holes drilled all along the perimeter of the top plates. Some of the plates seem to have rebar rods protruding through the holes. I assume that when a new rebar section is attached the...

I had my doubts. This is great news.

When exactly, and by who’s decree did downtown east side become Toronto’s urinal puck?

Not grey enough. Needs a tad more drab.

Thanks drum118. The pipe was originally placed above ground along the alleyway curb. It was later covered with concrete. When I noticed it was gone I assumed it was removed because the pump isn’t able to push the cement any higher. I didn’t realize the pipe was simply buried deeper. Anyway, it...