A major redevelopment is underway on the site a former Exhibition Place surface parking lot, with the construction of Hotel X, a 27-storey hotel developed by Exhibition Place and The Library Hotel Collection, and built by Brookfield Multiplex. When we last stopped by the site in late-2013, the project's first of two tower cranes had recently been erected and excavation work was almost complete. In the time since, the pit has been fully excavated and concrete has climbed back to grade on a small portion of the site.

Hotel X construction site viewed from the 2nd floor of the Stanley Barracks, image by Jack Landau

Designed by NORR Architects in cooperation with New York-based Stephen B Jacobs Group, the hotel will fill a geographic void in the hospitality department by hosting guests within the confines of Exhibition Place, home to our annual Summer tradition, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), and scores of other events during the year. The CNE draws in over 1 million visitors annually, many of whom visit Toronto specifically for the event. The addition of a hotel on the property has been a long time coming, with a recent design by architect Rocco Maragna replaced by the current design for Hotel X before construction started last year.

Hotel X construction site viewed from the north, image by Jack Landau

Hotel X site viewed from the site of the future entryway and heritage foundations, image by Jack Landau

The northwestern portion of the property, currently in use as a construction staging area and surface parking, will soon be transformed into a public plaza with fountains as well as a covered entryway for the hotel. This section of the site is also home to historic barracks foundations, associated with New Fort York and the existing Stanley Barracks which also remains on site. The foundations will be revealed and highlighted beneath the covered hotel entrance as an archeological treasure from our past. 

Future site of public plaza, fountains and hotel entrance, image by Jack Landau

Hotel X, image courtesy of The Library Hotel Collection

Hotel X is being built with a sports club with indoor tennis, volleyball, and squash courts capable of holding tournaments. A rooftop bar and restaurant will fill the 27th floor of the tower. The 406-suite hotel will be managed by The Library Hotel Collection, the hoteliers behind NYC hot-spots such as Library Hotel on 41st and Madison Avenue, the country French Style Hotel Elysee on East 54th and Madison Avenue, the Hotel Giraffe on 26th and Park Avenue South, and the Moroccan motif Casablanca Hotel on 43rd just off Broadway.

Hotel X construction site viewed from the west, image by Jack Landau

Want to know more about the project? Check out our dataBase file for Hotel X, linked below, for additional details and renderings. Want to get involved in the discussion? Choose the associated Forum thread link, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.