junctionist
Senior Member
It looks like a parking garage on the exterior.
- Thread starter Northern Light
- Start date
UtakataNoAnnex
Senior Member
From the article...From their opening night:
Huge lineups outside History mar opening night of Drake's new Toronto music venue
History, the brand new 2,500-seat concert venue in east Toronto by Live Nation and Drake, finally opened its doors last night to an ecstatic crowd of…www.blogto.com
"Still, the process of getting into Drake's new venue in The Beaches left a sour taste in the mouths of some attendees, who criticized History for being unprepared to handle the opening night rush."
...you know, he's gotten himself in a bit of trouble with the Astroworld business over that:
Astroworld: Travis Scott and Drake sued over deadly Texas concert crush
Lawsuits brought by some of those injured as authorities release the names of those who died
www.theguardian.com
/sigh
AlbertC
Superstar
AlbertC
Superstar
JasonParis
Moderator
It's OK lit up at night, but it kills the street a bit by day.
AlbertC
Superstar
A couple who were also passing by at the time commented: "Oh, that's the new music venue. It's very non-descript."
ushahid
Senior Member
at first glance looks like an industrial building.
junctionist
Senior Member
The average big box retail store has a more detailed facade from an architectural standpoint.
flonicky
Senior Member
Lula Lounge is more my (facade) style.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
This basically is big-box retail. This building is built the same way, at least.
JasonParis
Moderator
The twig trees in concrete planters don't help that streetscape much either. Honestly, if these were healthy mature trees, we'd probably think the venue was more inviting than we do now.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
It is worse than a Big Box store - it gives all the feels of a warehouse - with the loading dock doors facing the street. Not that it was any better before - and at least they got rid of that tacky awning. Mind you, I am sure the locals would have less issue with this atrocious block of nothing than say if you want to tack a mid-high rise residential building or two on this site.
AoD
AoD
Northern Light
Superstar
The cladding could be forgiven.....IF.....
1) The building had either of some real windows (deeply tinted would be fine); or faux windows using opaque/reflective glass; you need some visual breaks in that facade!
2) The building had backlit displays at street level promoting upcoming events (could be over-sized posters, or displays more similar to HBC's Queen St. Windows (ie. use of mannequins or sets etc etc.)
3) The building featured a good quality streetscape, a couple of large tree planters holding 2-3 trees each with large soil volumes, framed up in contrasting material to the cladding, and incorporating seating. These could also help frame the entrance.
4) The building had a proper marquee
5) Finally, can we please teach developers/architects to do a roofline treatment! (it does not need to be a faux historical cornice) just decorative edging of some sort that acts a coda on the rising wall.
1) The building had either of some real windows (deeply tinted would be fine); or faux windows using opaque/reflective glass; you need some visual breaks in that facade!
2) The building had backlit displays at street level promoting upcoming events (could be over-sized posters, or displays more similar to HBC's Queen St. Windows (ie. use of mannequins or sets etc etc.)
3) The building featured a good quality streetscape, a couple of large tree planters holding 2-3 trees each with large soil volumes, framed up in contrasting material to the cladding, and incorporating seating. These could also help frame the entrance.
4) The building had a proper marquee
5) Finally, can we please teach developers/architects to do a roofline treatment! (it does not need to be a faux historical cornice) just decorative edging of some sort that acts a coda on the rising wall.
whatever
Senior Member
I'm pretty sure the washrooms and some other back of house stuff are arranged along the Queen St side. Windows would be a non-starter, but some video billboards of upcoming shows might be a nice touch. Or I could even see that cladding as a backdrop for some large metal relief letters with venue's name (maybe backlight them for nighttime effect?).
The inside of the venue is quite nice. I hope it succeeds, as much as the exterior could use some reconsideration. The bigger problem killing the streetlife along there is the near-total lack of streetlife though. There's really not a lot of options nearby to grab a before/after drink. Or, the limited options that are there are completely overwhelmed whenever something's going on nearby. Another 5-6 bars would be a welcome addition.
The inside of the venue is quite nice. I hope it succeeds, as much as the exterior could use some reconsideration. The bigger problem killing the streetlife along there is the near-total lack of streetlife though. There's really not a lot of options nearby to grab a before/after drink. Or, the limited options that are there are completely overwhelmed whenever something's going on nearby. Another 5-6 bars would be a welcome addition.
AlbertC
Superstar
An additional application for a restaurant and patio right at the eastern-most corner of that block:
Existing:
Existing: