A good base to a tower is one that doesn't employ the use of a typical block sized podium.
 
That statement is far too broad to make any real sense.

In this particular case, the size of the podium here is dependent upon the size of the parking garage hidden behind the façade, and the TPA is insisting on providing a particular size. They are (or at least were as of earlier this spring) insisting that entrances be provided to it on both Cumberland and Yorkville Avenues. City Planning wants the entrances dropped to just one.

42
 
they mentioned exploring a 1 tower concept, so the height doesn't seem to be the concern. (the bulk of the massing that comes from 2 towers does seem to be though)

Is there any likelihood of the developers reverting this to a very tall one tower concept? The Holt Renfrew Tower seems to be going for big so a building of similar size or more could probably be given the go ahead here.
 
Is there any likelihood of the developers reverting this to a very tall one tower concept? The Holt Renfrew Tower seems to be going for big so a building of similar size or more could probably be given the go ahead here.

I would love to see this, but am doubtful. The economics generally favor two shorter towers over a single very tall structure, unless the available land area is very restricted. A single taller tower has to devote a greater percentage of its floorplate to elevators, for example. It seems that a number of potential supertalls in Toronto were turned into shorter two-tower designs for this reason. It's been reported that this has happened with the 60 Harbour project, for one example.
 
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From the DRP meeting – March 18, 2014......... http://www1.toronto.ca/City Of Toro...sign/Files/pdf/DRP/DRP Minutes March 2014.pdf

37 Yorkville Avenue
Wallman Architects
Minto Group
Rezoning Application
2 towers – 55 and 69 storeys

Positives
- the small parkette
- pedestrian mews access to the firehall
- setbacks on 37 Yorkville seem to be working
- one Member did not have an issue with the
proposed density

Problems:
- Members expressed significant concern with the
height and scale of the base building
o it feels very massive from the perspective of a
pedestrian
o the street is only 11-metres wide
o the scale and height doesn’t align with
planning and urban design policy objectives
- the tower floor plates are too large (beyond the
recommended maximum)

Recommended Refinements:
- reduce the tower floor plates
- the base building height should come down to be
more in scale with the street, and representative of
well—established policy/public realm objectives
- study the disposition of the two towers, to alleviate
issues of overlook
- determine if parking requirements can be further
relaxed, to help lower the base even further
 
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g1wpVUN.jpg
 
don't tell me they are going to reduce the height of tower and it will be less than 200m.
 
Looks really interesting. I wish AlbertC would provide some context to these new renders in the various Yorkville threads. Where did they come from?
 
They are from the DRP report.

None of the podium in the proposals (other than the unseen 2 Bloor W project) really works - they are all way too busy, trying to break up the bulk with designs that attempt to look interesting but always getting undermined by odd bits and pieces jutting out, ruining the unity of the effect.

AoD
 
I'd have to agree with the Design Panel. The base of this building is enormous! Cool design though, but it'll overwhelm Yorkville Ave.
 
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The building is a bit of a mess, with about 4 or 5 design motifs fighting against each other in one building.
 
None of the podium in the proposals (other than the unseen 2 Bloor W project) really works - they are all way too busy, trying to break up the bulk with designs that attempt to look interesting but always getting undermined by odd bits and pieces jutting out, ruining the unity of the effect.

AoD

+1000%. Although I do dig the render of that podium for 27 Yorkville.
 

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