Nearly a year after the March 2015 announcement of Allied Properties REIT’s purchase of 180 John Street for $8.25 million, we are learning about a plan to add more storeys to the building through an application for site plan approval, recently submitted to the City of Toronto’s Planning Department.

180 John Street, image retrieved from Google Street View

The plan, led by the design team of architects Gensler with heritage specialists ERA and landscape design by DTAH, would see two additional floors built above the 5-storey 1916-built red brick and beam former warehouse building, located on the west side of John Street north of Queen Street West, and across the street from Allied’s property at 179 John Street. 

East elevation diagram for 180 John Street, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

Elevation diagrams of the development show a faithful red brick-clad two-storey addition set above the existing 5th floor cornice, which will act as a visual break in the exterior facade. A new 7th floor cornice will separate the main massing from the stepped-back mechanical penthouse level above, set to also include an outdoor terrace for office tenants. The north elevation diagram provides a better view of the addition's transition between historic and contemporary elements.

North elevation diagram for 180 John Street, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

The cornices framing the addition serve as a reference to a building typology seen in historic structures around Toronto, with several examples existing in the surrounding Entertainment District.

Upper portion of east elevation diagram for 180 John Street, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

Though the site plan approval application was only submitted on January 19th, tenants have already been cleared from 180 John Street, and interior demolition work is now underway.

We will be sure to return with updates as more information about the development emerges. In the meanwhile, you can visit our dataBase file for the project, or get involved in the conversation by heading over to the associated Forum thread.

Related Companies:  Gensler