Bibi L
Active Member
I made this thread to discuss or post pics of Brookfield Place.
This thread will follow the same format as the 25 The Esplanade thread, we’ll first talk about the information about the complex, then move onto archive pictures of the architectural models, construction pictures, interior and exterior photos.
First, we’ll talk about the information about it.
Brookfield Place in Toronto was originally known as BCE Place. (Bell Canada Enterprises) The complex has two towers, TD Canada Trust Tower, a 53-story office tower, 261m in height (originally just Canada Trust Tower), Bay-Wellington Tower, a 49-story office tower, 207m in height, and several heritage buildings preserved in the complex, including 20/22 Front St W, which was built in 1923. In the 1980s, 4 floors were added. This isn’t the only time this building has been built on top of, as it is currently being proposed by Brookfield, to build a 52-story residential tower on top of it, 173.82m in height, obscuring the iconic TD Canada Trust Tower and Gooderham Flatiron building view. But it doesn’t end there, because in the late 80s, around the same time as the construction for the other towers, they also proposed to build on top of it, known as Phase III. That proposal however, would’ve fit in to the complex better, as the architecture would not be as different as the current proposal. The complex also features an atrium, known as Allen Lambert Galleria, connecting both towers, and an underground food court concourse level connected with the PATH. The atrium was designed by Santiago Calatrava. On the east end of the atrium, you will see Sam Pollock Square, with a fountain in the middle. The whole complex was proposed in 1986, and construction began in 1987. The whole complex finished in 1991. The first tower to be completed was TD Canada Trust Tower, in 1990. Bay Wellington Tower finished in 1991. Apparently, the design of TD Canada Trust Tower incorporates numerous setbacks due to a survey asking employees about their preferences for office space. The most requested features were large windows and corner suites. As a result, these setbacks allow for up to 16 corner offices on certain floors. TD Canada Trust Tower & Bay-Wellington Tower were designed by Bregman + Hamann Architects, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The complex is bordered by Front St, Yonge St, Bay St, and Wellington St. TD Canada Trust Tower has the address of 161 Bay St, while Bay-Wellington Tower has the address of 181 Bay St.
Moving on from information, we will first start off with the architectural models of the complex. Similar to 25 The Esplanade, we will notice differences between the models, and final design.
(Sources for photos posted at the bottom)
Starting off with the model of both towers. Here we can see clear differences from the final design and the model. Bay- Wellington tower would have had a spire. It seems TD Canada Trust Tower does not have any differences, apart from the tip of the spire appearing taller here. Bay-Wellington tower would have also had two windows protruding outwards, instead of one protruding inwards down the middle, on the south and north facades.
Here, we see how phase 3 would have looked like. I think I’d rather take this proposal rather than the current one…
Here we see the park. This photo might be flipped, as it appears that TD Canada Trust Tower is on the right, instead of the left. We should be seeing 22 Front on the right.
Before we start with any construction photos, here in this picture, we are looking south towards Front St. This photo will be interesting after we look at the next photo.
Now, in this picture, we are standing at the same spot as before, although we are actually standing closer south, as in the other picture we were actually standing at Wellington St. This picture is taken from the Devin-Lee Courtyard of the complex! Parking lot to park.
In this picture, we are standing on Yonge St & Front St, looking west. Here we see 22 Front. This is before they built on top of it.
Here we are on Yonge St, looking north towards Wellington St. This is before the entrance to Sam Pollock Square. These buildings were preserved.
Here we are looking south-west towards Yonge St, from Wellington St. Also taken before construction of the complex.
Here, we are on Bay St & Front St, looking north. On the right, that’s where TD Canada Trust Tower would be standing right now, but in this picture, this is well before they started construction for it. We see the Admiral Appliances building. This building was demolished to make way for Brookfield Place, along with another building, known as Credit Foncier.
On 4/15/1982, the Admiral Appliances sign was taken down. Original Toronto Star caption: “Sign of the times: After serving as a landmark for 30 years; the old; familiar Admiral Television Appliances sign; graced at night by two twinkling stars; was dismantled from its historic perch at Bay and Front Sts. yesterday.”
End of an era. Wonder why they preserved most of the other buildings but not this one?
Similar viewpoint as the photo before above the Toronto Star report. Here we have a clearer view of the Admiral building.
On Bay St, looking north, from north of Front St.
Similar view as the photo above, we see Brookfield Place completed here.
In this picture, we see the demolition for the remaining buildings on the corner of Front, Bay & Wellington. The Credit Foncier building was later demolished, as noted above.
This is only part one! If you’re interested, stay tuned for part two. There is a 15 attachment limit. It may take some time, as I have to do a lot of research, and finding all these pictures and putting them in order. We’ll get to the actual construction progress soon, but currently we are looking at proposals and demolitions. If you’re interested in these kind of threads, go check out 25 The Esplanade.
Sources for pictures: ACO Toronto, City of Toronto Archives, TPL Digital Archive (Toronto Star Archives)
This thread will follow the same format as the 25 The Esplanade thread, we’ll first talk about the information about the complex, then move onto archive pictures of the architectural models, construction pictures, interior and exterior photos.
First, we’ll talk about the information about it.
Brookfield Place in Toronto was originally known as BCE Place. (Bell Canada Enterprises) The complex has two towers, TD Canada Trust Tower, a 53-story office tower, 261m in height (originally just Canada Trust Tower), Bay-Wellington Tower, a 49-story office tower, 207m in height, and several heritage buildings preserved in the complex, including 20/22 Front St W, which was built in 1923. In the 1980s, 4 floors were added. This isn’t the only time this building has been built on top of, as it is currently being proposed by Brookfield, to build a 52-story residential tower on top of it, 173.82m in height, obscuring the iconic TD Canada Trust Tower and Gooderham Flatiron building view. But it doesn’t end there, because in the late 80s, around the same time as the construction for the other towers, they also proposed to build on top of it, known as Phase III. That proposal however, would’ve fit in to the complex better, as the architecture would not be as different as the current proposal. The complex also features an atrium, known as Allen Lambert Galleria, connecting both towers, and an underground food court concourse level connected with the PATH. The atrium was designed by Santiago Calatrava. On the east end of the atrium, you will see Sam Pollock Square, with a fountain in the middle. The whole complex was proposed in 1986, and construction began in 1987. The whole complex finished in 1991. The first tower to be completed was TD Canada Trust Tower, in 1990. Bay Wellington Tower finished in 1991. Apparently, the design of TD Canada Trust Tower incorporates numerous setbacks due to a survey asking employees about their preferences for office space. The most requested features were large windows and corner suites. As a result, these setbacks allow for up to 16 corner offices on certain floors. TD Canada Trust Tower & Bay-Wellington Tower were designed by Bregman + Hamann Architects, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The complex is bordered by Front St, Yonge St, Bay St, and Wellington St. TD Canada Trust Tower has the address of 161 Bay St, while Bay-Wellington Tower has the address of 181 Bay St.
Moving on from information, we will first start off with the architectural models of the complex. Similar to 25 The Esplanade, we will notice differences between the models, and final design.
(Sources for photos posted at the bottom)
Starting off with the model of both towers. Here we can see clear differences from the final design and the model. Bay- Wellington tower would have had a spire. It seems TD Canada Trust Tower does not have any differences, apart from the tip of the spire appearing taller here. Bay-Wellington tower would have also had two windows protruding outwards, instead of one protruding inwards down the middle, on the south and north facades.
Here, we see how phase 3 would have looked like. I think I’d rather take this proposal rather than the current one…
Here we see the park. This photo might be flipped, as it appears that TD Canada Trust Tower is on the right, instead of the left. We should be seeing 22 Front on the right.
Before we start with any construction photos, here in this picture, we are looking south towards Front St. This photo will be interesting after we look at the next photo.
Now, in this picture, we are standing at the same spot as before, although we are actually standing closer south, as in the other picture we were actually standing at Wellington St. This picture is taken from the Devin-Lee Courtyard of the complex! Parking lot to park.
In this picture, we are standing on Yonge St & Front St, looking west. Here we see 22 Front. This is before they built on top of it.
Here we are on Yonge St, looking north towards Wellington St. This is before the entrance to Sam Pollock Square. These buildings were preserved.
Here we are looking south-west towards Yonge St, from Wellington St. Also taken before construction of the complex.
Here, we are on Bay St & Front St, looking north. On the right, that’s where TD Canada Trust Tower would be standing right now, but in this picture, this is well before they started construction for it. We see the Admiral Appliances building. This building was demolished to make way for Brookfield Place, along with another building, known as Credit Foncier.
On 4/15/1982, the Admiral Appliances sign was taken down. Original Toronto Star caption: “Sign of the times: After serving as a landmark for 30 years; the old; familiar Admiral Television Appliances sign; graced at night by two twinkling stars; was dismantled from its historic perch at Bay and Front Sts. yesterday.”
End of an era. Wonder why they preserved most of the other buildings but not this one?
Similar viewpoint as the photo before above the Toronto Star report. Here we have a clearer view of the Admiral building.
On Bay St, looking north, from north of Front St.
Similar view as the photo above, we see Brookfield Place completed here.
In this picture, we see the demolition for the remaining buildings on the corner of Front, Bay & Wellington. The Credit Foncier building was later demolished, as noted above.
This is only part one! If you’re interested, stay tuned for part two. There is a 15 attachment limit. It may take some time, as I have to do a lot of research, and finding all these pictures and putting them in order. We’ll get to the actual construction progress soon, but currently we are looking at proposals and demolitions. If you’re interested in these kind of threads, go check out 25 The Esplanade.
Sources for pictures: ACO Toronto, City of Toronto Archives, TPL Digital Archive (Toronto Star Archives)