UrbanToronto has been featuring a number of projects this week that are the subject of current rumours and speculation regarding their status. Today we look at the final phase of MaRS, a scientific research incubator at the southeast corner of College Street and University Avenue. MaRS Phase 1 was designed by Adamson Associates Architects, and opened in 2005 and 2006. Included in Phase 1 were the 15-storey eastern tower, an 11-storey south tower, the connecting atrium, and the revitalized 1913 Heritage Building, formerly a wing of the Toronto General Hospital.

Below is the original plan, with the west tower designed to match the first phase east tower.

The site plan for MaRS Discovery District.

After the first phase was so successful, the decision was made to redesign the second phase to be significantly larger. Architect Patrick Fejer of Bregman + Hamann, who also designed the Cumberland Terrace redevelopment which we featured earlier this week, presented this 23-storey design in August of 2007.

Full length rendering of the exterior.

Rendering of the streetscape.

The MaRS Building as seen from Queen's Park

The area's layout.

UrbanToronto founding member Billy Corgan took these shots of the model that sat in the atrium of MaRS. We'll start with a shot from the northwest, like the Photoshopped image above, but from closer to the ground.

A neighbourhood model from the northwest corner.

The model looking from the north.

Again from the north.

From the east.

From the southeast.

Closer in from the west.

Again from the north.

Construction started on the new phase, but the economic downturn brought the 900,000 square foot addition to a halt as the forms reached ground level in November of 2008. Rumours have swirled recently that the project would restart this fall, but so far, only sporadic activity has been noted onsite, with no construction yet and no new announcement. Is the announcement coming shortly? When it comes, will the building be the one pictured above? All we know is that sometimes it can be tough waiting for the answer!

author: AlvinofDiaspar

posted: 2010-12-09 03:11:24