I couldn't agree with you more, SP!RE.
I hate to say it, but it's a mostly meaningless award. Look at who BILD and OHBA are. The OHBA, in fact, are known for lobbying to keep standards lower and costs down for homebuilders/developers. They're lobbyists. They represent the development INDUSTRY.
BILD and OHBA both represent development corporations. I'm not demonizing them, but just something to keep in mind. They have their own loyalties and priorities. You can call anything an "award" and it will sound impressive, but there is more beneath it.
These industry awards really have little merit and it's often driven by politics, self promotion and marketing, and run by their own industry.
The boards of BILD and OHBA consists of presidents and CEOs of development companies. Gary Switzer co-chairs BILD for which they have won a few awards.
Likewise there are a lot of people from the real estate and development industry on Urban Toronto, so you will get a lot of people here applauding or promoting certain projects.
These model suites are fictional vignettes that are more fashion than function. 20 or 30 years from now we will look back at these overly done model suites and cringe and think they are the most ridiculous designs on earth.
There are no awards or consumer reports that are run by independent groups which really looks at a condo development after it is completed and occupied, or at least ones that are well known to the public. That would really paint the real picture on how well a building is built and functions. Fancy brochures full of sexy computer generated renderings and overly trendy decorated model suites are bait and these buyers don't ask questions like, How long do I have to wait for an elevator? Where can my visitors park their car? Can I operate my AC in the winter or heat in the summer? Where can I store my vacuum and sports equipment? These things really matter when you are living in these massive condo towers.
I lived in various condos in my days and sat on a few condo boards so I have to know these details that most people don't even think about. Developers are in the business of selling and they don't really care much as they should on how a condo performs or functions a year, 5-years or 20-years from now. Massey Tower was really lucky that it sold at the very height of the condo market and sold these mediocre units briskly for top dollar.
I would love to see a publication that examines these new condo developments beyond the marketing material, which in the legal fine print is not a promise of what the develop will actually look like, and studies things that are boring and banal to most people like the mechanical systems, material durability, is there enough lighting or ventilation, how is security dealt with, how long or how much effort is required to get to your unit from the street or parking garage, etc. Picture something like the Consumer Reports of residential developments.
I would love to look into the future and when all 700 of these units are occupied and see how people deal with everyday life living in this tall skyscraper on a postage stamp sized property in a very busy and congested urban street. How are the residents supposed to move in and out with a large moving truck or a couple cars? How much effort and wait to get their car from the automated parking system? How's the elevator traffic when heading out to work in the morning? Where are the storage lockers and is it easily accessible?
So many questions that the sales representatives of this development don't have an answer.
There are so many compromises and corners cut these days which won't be evident 5 years from now when the building is built, and I am not just talking about this project but most condo projects in and around Toronto.
keep my mouth shut and look at photo updates (which is where UT really shines)!
