Toronto MaRS Centre Phase 2 | 112.77m | 20s | Alexandria | B+H

AlvinofDiaspar said:
re: Model pics

I wonder why the Ontario Hydro building is also done instead of plastic instead of wood; MaRS phase 3 in the making?

AoD
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Good eye and good question.
 
The Lyons project is certainly creative and appears to be very well executed. Thanks for the post. Nothing wrong with a little porn in moderation, now and again.
 
Putting together the words "Lyons" and "porn" gets me thinking of Calatrava The Gynecologist
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I think the sheer size and massing of this project will be enough to give more of a powerful impression to the intersection. University Ave from top to bottom is lined with boxy buildings, so in that sense this addition will fit right in. In very Toronto fashion, we're getting another mediocre conservative "landmark" that will serve its purpose, fulfill its obligations and do its job well. Nothing to write home about, but nice nonetheless. The real star of the site is the historical hospital building (or facade) anyway, so do we really need something on the corner to compete with it? I think it will be fine, and will certainly make an innumerable contribution to the city in so many ways.
 
simply Dan said:
In very Toronto fashion, we're getting another mediocre conservative "landmark" that will serve its purpose, fulfill its obligations and do its job well.
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I can interpret a portion of your post two ways: as a satiric aside with words like mediocre and "landmark"; or I could read it in some kind of literal way, and assume that you are dredging out that typical Torontonian defence of "our way has always been good and always will be good enough". I shall argue against the Torontonian defence just to make sure that the point is driven home.

I think it is safe to say, that if you read my posts anywhere on the UT you will see that I would like to change that "very Toronto fashion" everywhere that I find it. Or if that is too much, get people to at least consider another option or options when they see building into urban Toronto. I know that I am not alone on this. As I stated earlier, I am not upset, just disappointed with what we keep getting.

If I hadn't went Aussie, I don't know if it would have made a difference. I can think of several Toronto-based architectural firms, for instance, that could have done as well as Lyons - I was using the Lyons example simply because they had actually built a sophisticated bio-med research buildings, only a bit more dramatic than most people are use to seeing. And if you look at their record in this and other areas, they build responsibly not just with flash. The other bio-med I looked at was by Staab Architekten, and while their design team of Alfred Nieuwhuizen and Volker Staab are outwardly as conservative as what you are getting now, they are still more innovative in their exterior detailing than the buildings seen here, and their interiors are like Lyons, very forward-looking. (Unfortunately, there are only two internet photos I could use, both are not good enough to illustrate this point).

All of these alternatives can be scaled to site so I am not sure why this is being stated as part of any argument. Also they would likely be different in look than what has already been built by the same architects, thus avoiding the label of being a copy of something placed elsewhere. Neither Lyons nor Staab Architekten are "one-trick ponies," that is why I brought them into the discussion in the first place. Both represent young firms that are generating affordable but innovative designs in specialty areas of architecture; there is no need to go starchitect to get something arguably better than what we are going to get now.

I'll save my Toronto-based architects' names and designs for later, if necessary. But I'll alert you straight away, that the best works of these Toronto architects, aware of Toronto traditions, have been done outside Toronto. That speaks volumes about that "very Toronto fashion" which serves us oh-so very well.

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The limitations of bulletin boards. Being subtle doesn't always transmit too well.
 
I noticed yesterday that some excavators were parked. Between this and Shangri-La University will very soon be 100% parking-lot free. How many major streets in Toronto can we say that for?
 
I'll be the first to cheer when the massive parking lot between Queen and Shuter disappears (i.e. site of Cook's Church). (What's stalling *this* development?)
 
I'm not sure if it's just me but I'm looking forward to this project more than anything else going up ... minus the hight factor, I think this has a chance at being amazing
 
Building looks terrific. I like the bold, modern and glass building. Imagine how much it will spruce up the corner - b/c the building is tall too. I bet the construction will start soon too as the vehicles are visible on-site.
 
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