[AnnetteMeetsJane]

@Yegger I like the brick in person. YMMV

AmJ

 

[ushahid]

i like the brick too but the glass/spandrel is very bad.

 

[DtTO]

Care to elaborate on what you like about it? I fail to see any redeeming qualities. Just look at the lobby

I like the overall massing, the brick, the fact that the balconies are well integrated, the lower iron content vision glass used. The spandrel is bad, but not terrible. Overall, this is a decent addition to the area, IMO, and not at all offensive to me. I was expecting a lot worse, considering the architect here.

 

[ciceror]

The glass, like most buildings, is the terrible part, but this could have been worse, at least it has some brick,

To allow myself to appreciate this built, I just squint my eyes and look at the bottom part, and it almost looks like an old heritage warehouse that got renovated with new glass

 

[karledice]

I think it would have been much better if the brick was a bright colour like red since the glass is already dark and gloomy.
The combination of black brick and black dark glass just makes it depressing
It does look better in person cause the red tones sometimes come out

 

[egotrippin]

I like the overall massing, the brick, the fact that the balconies are well integrated, the lower iron content vision glass used. The spandrel is bad, but not terrible. Overall, this is a decent addition to the area, IMO, and not at all offensive to me. I was expecting a lot worse, considering the architect here.

I agree, this is pretty average/slightly above average for Toronto; brick accents carried to the top, glass/spandrel is certainly far from the worst we've seen. The hate seems disproportionate.

Perhaps it's a sad state of affairs when we're happy simply because a building is better than terrible, but I guess they can't all be masterpieces.

 

[Red Mars]

Nov 19 and 23, 2021

 

[Undead]

Yeah, I don't get the hate for this one. The brick looks good; the massing is bold and confident.

Yes, there should have been brick instead of glass at ground level. But a poor ground floor design is SOP for nearly all developments in this city.

Otherwise, the only issue I see is a slight excess of transoms which cheapens the window wall appearance.

 

[ciceror]

that gas station looks a good spot to increase the streetwall here

 

[Northern Light]

Photos taken November 23rd, 2021:

 

[Red Mars]

Nov 26, 2021

 

[Red Mars]

Nov 29, 2021

Assist crane on site to dismantle the tower crane.

​

 

[daptive]

Not specific to just this project, but is there a technical, financial, or aesthetic reason that brick is rarely brought down to the ground floor? It seems a a handful of new Toronto buildings have this "heavy-brick-balancing-on-delicate-glass" look that just doesn't work.

 

[AHK]

Not specific to just this project, but is there a technical, financial, or aesthetic reason that brick is rarely brought down to the ground floor? It seems a a handful of new Toronto buildings have this "heavy-brick-balancing-on-delicate-glass" look that just doesn't work.

The one practical reason I can think of - glass is one heck of a lot easier to keep looking clean than brick at ground level in busy areas. A bucket of water with some soap, and a long handled squeegee will get rid of virtually all dirt and debris. On the other hand, salt spray from the street, and dog urine are a lot harder to get rid of where brick (or a stone facade) comes right down to the ground. And unfortunately - in downtown Toronto, we have lots of both salt spray and dog urine to contend with.

 

[concrete_and_light]

Personally I've never noticed brick/stone buildings being dirty as a major issue in the city. But I do notice the hostile sterility of glass/spandrel street fronts.