In a city of glass, it takes an architectural marvel to make one glass skyscraper stand out above all the rest, but a recent proposal from H&R REIT stands to accomplish just that with eye-catching designs from PARTISANS Architects and Turner Fleischer.
The 65-storey mixed-use development located at 145 Wellington Street West in downtown Toronto would share an intersection with the RBC buildings and Roy Thompson Hall — the latter of which echoes the proposed building's look with its crosshatched glass design... But more on that later.
H&R REIT submitted their plans, which include a combined Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment, in late-October. If approved, the office building that currently occupies the site and houses Meridian Credit Union, would be demolished and replaced with the new, soaring tower.
The late-October submission comprises a revised application that seeks to increase the previously approved storey count from 60 to 65 and the residential unit count from 512 to 861. Additionally, it aims to exempt itself from stipulations of the Downtown Secondary Plan, which require 100% of demolished office space to be replaced in new developments.
It's notable that while this application is reviewed by the City, city staff are also carrying out a study which looks into office needs throughout the city, with preliminary findings suggesting a decrease in the percentage of office replacement required. In the face of the housing crisis and a high office vacancy rate, some are arguing that a 100% repeal of the office replacement bylaw is necessary.
For 145 Wellington Street in particular — an address smack dab in the middle of the Financial District — H&R REIT says in their cover letter, "it is our opinion that the proposed development represents good and appropriate land use planning and urban design and reflects an important opportunity to redevelop a prominent site in the City’s Financial District, in proximity to rapid transit, to create additional housing supply, while contributing retail use within the building."
Now for the building itself. At 65 storeys and 213 metres high, the structure will be in the upper echelon of Toronto's tallest buildings, but it's PARTISANS and Turner Fleischer's unique design that will make it stand out.
At its base frontages on Wellington and Simcoe Street, passersby would see large floor to ceiling glass walls offering unobstructed views into the lobby and a dramatic undulating overhang that gives way to a bold crosshatch pattern above. Atop the 23 floor would be a 360 degree terrace offering 6,393 sq. ft of outdoor amenity space.
Plus, the proposal aims to enhance the streetscape with street-level retail space, wider sidewalks, and new landscaping features, including planting beds, trees, and short-term bicycle parking.
The collaborating architecture firms "will introduce a distinctive and captivating building to the neighbourhood," says the development's website. "This addition is sure to be cherished by both visitors and new residents alike."
Within the 23-storey podium is proposed 2,185 sq. ft of retail space, a 4,456 sq. ft lobby, and a bicycle storage and repair room, at-grade. Levels two and three will house additional bicycle storage and parking as well as indoor and outdoor amenity space, with all above levels being reserved for residential units.
A total of 12,039 sq. ft of indoor amenity space will be available to residents across levels three and 24, contiguous with the total of 6,512 sq. ft of outdoor amenity space also on those levels.
The 861 units will be divided into 99 studio units, 630 one-bedroom and one-bedroom plus den units, 45 two-bedroom units, and 87 three-bedroom units. Those residents would have access to a corresponding 74 vehicular parking spaces and 346 bicycle spaces, 87 of which will be short-term.
As highlighted by H&R REIT, those that could one day call the building home would be situated within 430 metres of the main entrance to Union Station, providing connectivity to the GO commuter rail, GO bus terminal, Via Rail, UP Express, and the Toronto subway system. The site is also in close proximity to the St. Andrew subway station, Osgoode subway station, and number of surface transit stops.
Further adding to the development's appeal are the surrounding retail, dining, and entertainment options, being situated in Toronto's downtown core. These include but are not limited to the CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, and Roy Thompson Hall, with its lively David Pecault Square, and a number of other cultural destinations in the Entertainment District.
"Our goal with 145 Wellington St. W. is to create a mixed use building more befitting of the energy, dynamism and innovation present in the Financial District and the Entertainment District communities," says the development's website.