[grey]

Can someone please bring me up to speed as to why the parking isn't below ground? This thing is an affront to even the most basic aesthetic sensibility. That precast, while motivated by an interesting artistic idea, already looks dated, dirty, and downright cheap.

I hate to be negative but we should be using this forum to critique the City's lack of leadership on mandating higher standards of design than ogling the rush to height. Cool today, a financial and visual burden tomorrow.

Parking is both above and below grade. There are actually four levels of underground parking. The extra parking levels were required by the City to accommodate the City-owned ArtScape cultural facility.

That doesn't exactly answer why some levels are above grade, but my guess is that neither the developer nor the City was willing pay for additional costly excavation for the cultural component. They were probably limited by the amount of funding they were able to get from Daniels (I'm assuming the City managed to get this through Section 37 of the Planning Act).

Not a perfect compromise, but at least we're getting a new performance/programming space at ground level to distract from all the dreary spandrelriffic condos!

 

[urbandreamer]

13 June 2012

 

[SP!RE]

The blue glazing would not have been my choice, that's for sure, but I like the podium cladding and the overall shape a fair bit.

 

[Edward]

I also like the podium cladding.

 

[SP!RE]

Pleasant surprise: the white cladding going up on the vertical feature on the north and west facades of this tower looks awesome! Very sharp and provides a beautiful contrast with the rest of the building.

 

[interchange42]

More new pics up on the front page here, now featuring an orange stripe.

 

[drum118]

June 16
Based on what I am seeing so far, this is one of the best building so far. Nice use of colours.

Look forward to seeing this one in Sept, after I get back. More up on site.

 

[Xray_Crystal_Junkie]

Some of the precast looks damaged.

I see what you mean. Hm, hope that can be fixed.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

It would have looked so much better if they used Corten steel for that - like http://occasionaltoronto.blogspot.ca/2010/04/corten-steel-at-max-gluskin-house.html

AoD

 

[someMidTowner]

Today:

 

[adHominem]

I mis-read the banner that says "High-rise builder of the year" as "High-risk builder". Eep!

 

[urbandreamer]

27 June 2012: If this was a blockbuster movie, I'd walk out. But even B movies have their charm.

 

[urbandreamer]

2 July 2012: To the left above District Lofts you can see Allied Reit's QRC crane; behind that is 111 Peter Street so to the left & right of it will be Tableau & Peter Street Condos, then further right Noir (which apparently is selling ok so may get built....)

 

[AHK]

My thoughts regarding the cranes - the one which is seen over the District Lofts building is actually from the Pinnacle on Adelaide, while the Allied Reit's QRC crane can actually be seen to the left of the District Lofts building, right at the edge of the picture. The QRC crane has a horizontal boom, while the one over the District Lofts building has a luffing boom, which is consistent with crane in the north-east corner of the Pinnacle on Adelaide site.

 

[maestro]

It would have looked so much better if they used Corten steel for that - like http://occasionaltoronto.blogspot.ca/2010/04/corten-steel-at-max-gluskin-house.html

AoD

Corten bleeds. Parklex or any other wood composite panel would have worked extremely well here.