condovo said:
Seeing the silo partly restored makes me think that's it a great shame other silos on the waterfront have been lost. We've still got a couple left though, including this one, thankfully.
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Definitely, especially when you see them massed in scale like in Buffalo's Silo City.

Silos like these will become an increasingly alien element in our cities- while you can easily replicate traditional architectural forms on new residential/commercial/institutional buildings, the massing, construction/technology, and economics of these waterfront silos will likely preclude them from ever being built again.
 
DSC said:
Great choice of contractor - they did Berczy and are doing Love Parks too. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.BA29.5

BA29.5 - Award of Ariba Document Number 3901497212 to 671860 Ontario Inc. o/a Somerville Construction for Bathurst Quay Waterfront Park and Plaza Construction for Parks, Forestry and Recreation​

Consideration Type: ACTIONWard: 10 - Spadina - Fort York
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We're thrilled (pending successful award next week, of course) to be working with Somerville to deliver this site's final, connecting public realm layer designed by PFS Studio.

This will actually be Somerville's third project on the malting property, having built the Portland Slip promenade in 2011 with WT and the City; and were recently subs to Soletanche-Bachy on the Western Channel dockwall rehab and promenade that kicked off this ongoing revitalization back in October 2019.

If the UT community will indulge some congratulatory remarks - it's a credit to the dedication of our entire team (City and consultants) on this project that we were able to issue this tender call in March, close in April, award in May, and (pending contract award and execution) will start construction in June. Just great stuff.

Will share details here of a planned ground-breaking ceremony next month. Mobilization will start immediately after the event, and the whole project (including silos and the Corleck) will be complete by Fall 2024.

Onwards!

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jje1000 said:
Definitely, especially when you see them massed in scale like in Buffalo's Silo City.

Silos like these will become an increasingly alien element in our cities- while you can easily replicate traditional architectural forms on new residential/commercial/institutional buildings, the massing, construction/technology, and economics of these waterfront silos will likely preclude them from ever being built again.
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This is very well said. What a unique experience to find forms, shapes, volumes, shadows, textures, etc. like these in a waterfront park set against the Toronto skyline. It's been a central philosophy of this entire project to just let the silos be what they are!

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The support for the canopy is new I think. The structure between the north and south silos is going to be coming down soon. The last pic is of a crack in the wall of the north silo that apparently is acting as an impromptu camera obscura on the inside wall of the structure. Would love to see a photo. Photos taken 2 June.
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rdaner said:
The support for the canopy is new I think. The structure between the north and south silos is going to be coming down soon. The last pic is of a crack in the wall of the north silo that apparently is acting as an impromptu camera obscura on the inside wall of the structure. Would love to see a photo. Photos taken 2 June. View attachment 482553View attachment 482554View attachment 482556View attachment 482555View attachment 482557View attachment 482558View attachment 482559
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Yes, you’re correct about the canopy. All that’s really left for the Corleck’s exterior is glazing and doors, which are being fabricated now and are scheduled to start installation this Fall. The new windows match the original small pane design and are going to look amazing.

Sharing a link here for a timelapse and short video of the camera obscura Jonathan Gazze shot and produced. We had to repair this crack as part of the south silo rehab, but took precise measurements of the opening and are exploring how to reproduce it in multiple locations using a small, weather right lens.


And yes, the demo work for the silo ‘portal’, which will create a 5m wide pathway between the two silos, starts Monday morning. Though it won’t be open to the public until the new park opens in Fall 2024, by Friday next week you should be able to see the full, roughed in opening from the Portland Slip side. Once complete, the pathway will feature interpretive signage, and illuminated silo artefacts will be visible inside the silos themselves.

This photo provides a preview of what the overhead open air view will look like when you pass through the portal. Incidentally, Jonathan Gazze has graciously offered to lend his talents again, and will be shooting the demo work next work.

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Demo update. Already about 75% done. Reminder this walkway won’t be open to the public until the new park on the west side of the silos is completed and open next year. But even from outside the site you can already make the visual connection through from either side. Very cool to see trees, boats and the skyline through the now separated silos.

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bowen said:
Yes, you’re correct about the canopy. All that’s really left for the Corleck’s exterior is glazing and doors, which are being fabricated now and are scheduled to start installation this Fall. The new windows match the original small pane design and are going to look amazing.

Sharing a link here for a timelapse and short video of the camera obscura Jonathan Gazze shot and produced. We had to repair this crack as part of the south silo rehab, but took precise measurements of the opening and are exploring how to reproduce it in multiple locations using a small, weather right lens.


And yes, the demo work for the silo ‘portal’, which will create a 5m wide pathway between the two silos, starts Monday morning. Though it won’t be open to the public until the new park opens in Fall 2024, by Friday next week you should be able to see the full, roughed in opening from the Portland Slip side. Once complete, the pathway will feature interpretive signage, and illuminated silo artefacts will be visible inside the silos themselves.

This photo provides a preview of what the overhead open air view will look like when you pass through the portal. Incidentally, Jonathan Gazze has graciously offered to lend his talents again, and will be shooting the demo work next work.

View attachment 482583
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So wait, is the plan to try and replicate this camera obscura effect in other places in the silo's?
 
For anyone interested in attending, the City is hosting a ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday, June 21, 9:30am, to mark the start of construction on “Bathurst Quay Common”, which I’m able to now share is officially the name for this new waterfront park. This also marks the start of the third and final construction phase that will see the revitalization of the silo site complete by Fall 2024. Confirmed speakers for Wednesday include Deputy Mayor McKelvie and Councillor Malik, with a live musical performance courtesy of our partners at Canada Ireland Foundation. Takes place just south of the Corleck (west side of Ireland Park).

Also, sharing glimpses below of what Ireland Park will look like with the fences gone and finally re-connected to the silos. Ireland Park is getting a refurb within the ‘Bathurst Quay Common’ scope, including new electrical service and restored lighting, irrigation, and a modest but important expansion along the south and east face of the rehabbed silos.

Also sharing some views of the roughed in silo ‘portal’. The north silo archways will form the entrance to the ground floor space we’re exploring for re-use with OCAD.

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Khaloody said:
It Would have been a nice spot for a rooftop patio/restaurant a top the silo. It would've offered nice views of the airport and our skyline.
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Getting up there and down again, plumbing and what do we do during those brass monkey cold winter months would likely be the technical hurdles to jump through here, I guess. >.<
 
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