New design and architectural changes were recently unveiled at a public meeting for one of Toronto’s most noteworthy residential projects, Mirvish+Gehry.
On Tuesday, February 9th, the latest updates were presented at a community meeting hosted by the City of Toronto for the two condo towers planned for King Street West and Ed Mirvish Way.
Canadian developers Great Gulf, Westdale Properties and Dream Unlimited are collaborating on the project with Toronto-born architect, Frank Gehry, who was present to reveal the latest updates.
“This will be the most talked about mixed-use development in the history of Toronto and we’re thrilled to meet with the public to share the design updates of an unprecedented architectural project,” said Mitchell Cohen, Chief Operating Officer of Westdale Properties.
The most recent amendments to the towers plan to maintain the height and density allowances that were approved in a 2017 zoning by-law amendment, a press release from the developers explains. Recent architectural drawings submitted to urban planners in December 2020 show that the towers are seeking heights of 84 and 74 storeys with the mechanical roofs, approximately 308 and 266.5 metres to the top of the parapet. The taller western tower would maintain its supertall status, which is granted to buildings that exceed 300 metres in height.
The tower heights stated in the latest version are shorter than the 2018 planning rationale, when the developers were seeking heights of 92 and 82 storeys. Originally envisioned as a three-tower project, the first application for Mirvish+Gehry was submitted in 2012. The project was later reduced to two towers and has undergone a number of changes since.
In addition to the tower’s height, the latest amendments seek to reorganize the buildings on the site and “enhance the podiums and optimize the floor plates” which would help to provide views for both buildings. The façade of the heritage Anderson Building, built in 1915 at 284 King Street West, would be incorporated into the podium.
Significant updates to the building’s exteriors have also been proposed. The exterior envelopes would consist of energy-efficient materials with a “unique textured metal and glass façade,” that will lend ever-changing vistas of the towers, the release says. New space for OCAD University would be included in the project, along with commercial, retail and residential components.
“I wanted the two towers to each have their own personality, but I also wanted them to talk to each other, creating a dynamic and changing addition to the skyline depending where you were viewing them from in the city,” said Gehry in the release.
“The detailing of the exterior is intended to give the buildings a human scale and hopefully reflect the light and colour from the city and the sky around it. In the end, this should be a building of Toronto that I hope will make the city proud,” he added.
Following the package of application updates that were submitted in December, the release says that the latest changes will be brought to the City’s Committee of Adjustment for approval.
