1299 Richmond Road | Formal Review | Zoning By-law Amendment & Site Plan Control Application | Brigil, BDP Quadrangle, Fotenn Planning + Design
Key Recommendations
The Panel expressed a strong appreciation for the overall approach to the building and proposal.
The Panel recommends giving more consideration to the building’s environmental sustainability and opportunities, for example the reusability of stormwater on the site.
The Panel recommends integrating townhouse units and considering a step in the podium along the north laneway façade in order to create a better relationship with the properties to the north.
The Panel recommends further refining and advancing the concept of the interior greenspace and pool amenity as an architectural feature of the proposal.
The Panel supports and appreciates the proposal of a green terracotta material and recommends using it to create a sense of depth in the elevations and to provide a partial sun-shading element.
The Panel recommends further refining the way in which the two different architectural expressions in the elevations integrate with one another.
Consider perhaps wrapping them around the corners of the towers a bit to provide a greater sense of 3-dimensionality rather than a planar screen-like appearance.
The Panel recommends implementing an architectural expression to the upper level(s) of the towers that is alternate to the towers main expression(s).
The Panel appreciates the revisions to the tower heights and adjustments to their locations to provide more breathing room to the properties to the north.
Site Design & Public Realm
The Panel appreciates the revisions made to increase the setback along Starflower Lane and give more breathing room to the properties to the north.
The Panel recommends collaborating with City staff to implement the woonerf treatment all the way around the building (north and east sides).
If the preferred paver treatment is not feasible, consider a concrete laneway treatment.
The Panel recommends an agreement for the laneway treatment should be achieved as part of the scope of this project, and programmed to integrate with the ground floor uses and amenity space.
The Panel appreciates the current direction of the podium and recommends further considering the relationship of the podium corners to the public realm experience, particularly along Richmond Road.
Sustainability
The Panel recommends further advancing the sustainability initiatives of the proposal.
Consider opportunities to capture the stormwater in a more usable way.
Consider adding some depth to the green material areas and using it as a partial sun-shading element of the design.
Consider opportunities for a solar roof and renewable energy.
Consider integrating low impact development and pervious paving, for example, into the design.
Built Form & Architecture
The Panel appreciates and supports the articulation of the building and towers.
The Panel appreciates the green and white colour choices for the tower materials and architectural expression.
The Panel supports the use of green materials—whether terracotta or glazed—and recommends furthering the concept of the green vegetated central element in earlier renditions.
The Panel appreciates the revisions to the podium and inset along Richmond Road.
Consider exploring a central high lobby with a tall atrium, and connecting it with the amenity space and internal green space.
The Panel has concerns with the institutional quality of the architectural expression.
The Panel recommends refining the way in which the two different façade treatments of the towers integrate and tie-in to one another.
Explore further how to express the architecture ‘in the round’ and less as a planar screen element.
Consider overlapping the green material element to create less of a stark linear element on the façades.
Consider adding more layers and depth to the façade grids.
The Panel has concerns with the podium base appearing as a flat white material.
Explore different neutral masonry materials for the podium, preferably more of a beige tone.
The Panel recommends further exploring the opportunity for a stepped podium on the north side, potentially with residential units at grade level.
Consider the opportunity to tie in with the properties across the laneway by providing more of a residential feel on the north side of the podium along the Starflower Lane.
The Panel recommends further developing the access from the plaza and how it relates to the podium’s central amenity feature, etc.
