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Just under two weeks ago we last checked in on the construction of the new pedestrian bridge soon to re-connect the main section Cadillac Fairview's Toronto Eaton Centre with the Hudson's Bay/Saks Fifth Avenue building to the south. At the time of our last update in May, demolition was wrapping up on the original pedestrian bridge spanning Queen Street, as workers simultaneously continued the assembly of a new bridge on James Street just to the west.
Designed by UK-based architects Wilkinson Eyre, with Zeidler Partnership Architects serving as co-designer and Executive Architect on the project, the new bridge draws architectural inspiration from the two distinct styles of the buildings it will soon connect. At the north end, the bridge will connect with the 1970s glass and steel aesthetic of the Eaton Centre, through narrow metal ribs and plenty of glass. To the south, the bridge's shape and materiality gradually transition to address the arched opening above the Queen Street entrances of Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudson's Bay, switching to a rounder shape while minimizing the glazing and increasing the side of the steel ribs. Recent photos of the steel assembly on James Street show that the bridge's striking shape has become apparent. All of the bridge's steel ribs will eventually be clad in the etched bronzed panels.
The photos also offer insight into how the new bridge will be moved into place. It has been noted in this Forum post that the bridge is being assembled with its north end to the south, and vice versa. With the bridge positioned this way, the completed structure will need to be pivoted during its last transport by temporary crane.
With the former bridge now removed from the buildings, crews are in the process of finalizing demolition work of the its former connections. Yesterday afternoon, crews could be seen breaking off a concrete beam that was used to hold up the north end of the old bridge. The new north end of the bridge will land slightly east of the former bridge, and work in this area has required the installation of scaffolds over the mall's south entrance.
A rendering depicting the completed bridge shows what we can expect upon completion. With the Eaton Centre among the most visited attractions in the city, this bridge will play a prominent role as both a functional piece of pedestrian infrastructure, and a new landmark over Queen Street.
Additional information and renderings can be found in our Eaton Centre Database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.
| Related Companies: | Bass Installation, Giannone Petricone Associates, LRI Engineering Inc., RJC Engineers, Walters Group, Zeidler Architecture |
