Three UrbanToronto members, skyscan, androiduk, and GrinTO, have been busy on Shuter Street east of Yonge over the last week as the bridge to connect St. Michael's Hospital with its new Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute has begun to be installed. The bridge and Institute were designed by Jack Diamond of Diamond+Schmitt Architects. The 30 metre-long structure will be a sleek glass tube, interwoven with and supported by a steel structure. It will connect the third floor of St. Mike's Cardinal Carter wing to the first balcony level of the Knowledge Institute near the new health sciences library.

image by skyscan

image by androiduk

image by skyscan

image by skyscan

image by skyscan

As permits for overhead walkways are usually denied in Toronto, the hospital uncoupled all bridge permits from the main building approvals process so as not to delay the overall project. St. Mike's approached retiring Ward 27 Councilor Kyle Rae for support. Rae told the hospital that the bridge would have to be something nice for the city of Toronto, not just functional. With Rae’s support and many meetings with city officials, approval to build the bridge was granted late in 2009.

image by grinTO

image by grinTO

image by grinTO

The steel frame was built in Germany, and will soon be weatherproofed by curved, double-glazed glass panels from Italy. When winter arrives, attention turns to interior work; the walkway platform, balustrades, lighting and airflow, with an expected completion date in March.

Image by androiduk

image by androiduk

Related Companies:  Diamond Schmitt Architects, Eastern Construction, entro, Ferris + Associates Inc., Isotherm Engineering Ltd., LiveRoof Ontario Inc, NORR Architects & Engineers Limited, Priestly Demolition Inc.