Toronto Eaton Centre (Ongoing Renewal) | ?m | ?s | Cadillac Fairview | Zeidler

The last two stores opened in 2015 sure didn't seem to avoid them at all.. Over half the stores opened in 2015 had columns present.

Are those just the new Asian stores? It certainly doesn't prove that argument...that's just selectively picking ones with columns and pillars...
 
Are we still really debating if Apple stores have columns or not?

As photos and common sense dictate, it is more common than not for large retail spaces to have columns (duh). Apple does not seem to take issue with this in many of their locations, as evidenced by the various photos that have been posted. Given that the structural columns in the Eaton Centre are immovable (duh) and bay sizes are only so big, if there is going to be a new Apple store in the Eaton Centre at any point, it will have columns in it. The same most likely goes for a location at 1 Bloor East. Apart from purpose-built locations and smaller stores, you can expect Apple Store locations to have columns in them.

Can we move on?
 
Yes, Sir Spire!

We can now move on...despite the fact that 'immovable' columns can be removed with alternative structural engineering (duh).
 
We can now move on...despite the fact that 'immovable' columns can be removed with alternative structural engineering (duh).

Incredibly pedantic. Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it, including altering a building's structure.

The idea that structural columns would be moved/replaced in an existing part of a structure like the Eaton Centre is ridiculous and about as likely as... well, it's simply unfeasible. This discussion is based around the idea of an Apple store going in the existing mall along Yonge, no?
 
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So is there an actual Apple Store going here then to warrant all this excessive discussion? It gets very confusing where the heck this Apple Store is going...I personally don't think it's here...
 
No one knows. All talk of Apple stores is speculative until the company reveals its hand, which it seldom does much in advance of an opening.

A summary of the talk above comes down to circumstantial evidence for and against.

For: one of three large retail spaces north of the Nordstrom remains "unclaimed" on the Yonge Street side at the Dundas atrium. (We already know that H&M are reworking their space, beside them will be Uniqlo.) That leaves one space with significant exposure on Yonge, a prestige location that faces Dundas Square. We know work is going on on the outside, we can guess it's going on inside. We know that the existing Apple store is often crowded beyond efficient use, there's a rumour "they've spent their last Christmas" in the current location. We know Apple doesn't talk about their store moves, and Cadillac Fairview's not been breathing a word about that space on Yonge.

Against: there are a lot of columns in the space, and some are arguing that Apple doesn't like columns (despite photographic evidence to the contrary).

So, are the columns a deal-breaker? No one knows, but weigh the evidence for yourself.
 
It's too bad that instead of doing a cohesive reimagining of the entire Yonge Street elevation, they've simply furthered the hodgepodge that is the Eaton Centre in 2016. The complex has become a mish-mash of various annexes and renovations and restylings and it doesn't add up.

And it doesn't help that the various annexes and renovations doesn't carry the oomph of the original structure - and the Millennial addition in brick is the worst offender - simultaneously deviating from the design vocabulary in the worst possible way while eating into what was previously a generous public realm on Yonge.

AoD
 
It also seems all architects in Toronto can do in this kind of projects is adding some glass. More glass - all problem solved.
 
It's too bad that instead of doing a cohesive reimagining of the entire Yonge Street elevation, they've simply furthered the hodgepodge that is the Eaton Centre in 2016. The complex has become a mish-mash of various annexes and renovations and restylings and it doesn't add up.
Every Cadillac Fairview owned mall has this kind of style. They just can't help themselves.
 

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