Toronto Union Station Revitalization | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto | NORR

nightstreak said:
They were already bare bones. So I choose optimism and that they may be getting some design flare suitable of our country's main train station.


Hey, it could happen. 😅
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I personally don’t think the platforms look bad, a lot of major train stations have less grand, more utilitarian platforms outside the main canopy, and that’s what these new platforms are.

All of the remaining Union platforms outside the main canopy will look similar to what’s being built in USEP when they’re upgraded.

International examples:

IMG_0606.jpegIMG_0607.jpegIMG_0608.jpeg

Our issue in Toronto isn’t the outer platforms looking simple, it’s that the grand main canopy doesn’t look very grand.

Why I brought up value engineering as a concern is because I think there’s a chance Metrolinx cuts back the canopy coverage along the USEP platforms, the current plans have canopies covering around 90% of the platforms. New projects like Bloor-Lansdowne, or Caledonia, have little to no canopy coverage.
 
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WB62 said:
I personally don’t think the platforms look bad, a lot of major train stations have less grand, more utilitarian platforms outside the main canopy, and that’s what these new platforms are.

All of the remaining Union platforms outside the main canopy will look similar to what’s being built in USEP when they’re upgraded.

International examples:

View attachment 722749View attachment 722750View attachment 722751

Our issue in Toronto isn’t the outer platforms looking simple, it’s that the grand main canopy doesn’t look very grand.

Why I brought up value engineering as a concern is because I think there’s a chance Metrolinx cuts back the canopy coverage along the USEP platforms, the current plans have canopies covering around 90% of the platforms. New projects like Bloor-Lansdowne, or Caledonia, have little to no canopy coverage.
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My hope is that this new corridor could (in the future) become the place for a feature canopy. Any canopy isn't visible from Front Street where the beaux-arts building is the feature. So any canopy would be visible from Union Plaza on the south side.
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Imagine something like this from Calatrava as the south entrance at Union Plaza and over the platforms above the entrance.

lisbon-oriente-station-12.JPG


Not now but perhaps in the future when MLSE wants to redevelop the office component of Scotiabank Arena and shares air rights with the rail corridor in exchange for an integrated canopy and redesigned south entrance into Union Station.
 
Looks like work is finally set to begin in the Great Hall. Lighting and flooring. The centre info booth, clocks and former departure monitors are to come out, apparently never to return. Unclear whether past intentions to use the space for events, a la Chicago Union Station's Great Hall, are still envisioned.
No idea what plans are for the north side of the Hall, currently masked by art-adorned hoarding.
 
Le Gique said:
Looks like work is finally set to begin in the Great Hall. Lighting and flooring. The centre info booth, clocks and former departure monitors are to come out, apparently never to return. Unclear whether past intentions to use the space for events, a la Chicago Union Station's Great Hall, are still envisioned.
No idea what plans are for the north side of the Hall, currently masked by art-adorned hoarding.
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The City announced that the Great Hall lighting and floor would be done in 2026 (and an order for matching floor was sent to the Tennessee Marble Company a few months ago (SEE https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.GG26.28)

Does your post indicate that 'something is starting NOW? (I find it a bit odd if it is as I doubt it would be great to have the Great Hall floor under repair during FIFA as the station is likely to be very crowded.) I have not heard that the centre information booth is going (permanently) but, though there has 'always' been one there, it probably could be moved. The plans for the area on north side are still that a restaurant will go there and I bet Osmington - the head leasee - are working on something for the area after the floor and lighting is done.
 
DSCToronto said:
Our favourite wooden pole is back in the news!

View attachment 726165

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SEE: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/th...cle_1ec0b0d1-54f2-4422-bac7-f75f52c3f07c.html


This is good news but Hydro denied ownership when I wrote them about it a couple of years ago. Mr @nightstreak may have got to the truth!!
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WOO HOO! I will die a happy urbanist if this is my contribution to the pedestrian realm at one of the busiest corners in Toronto. However, I take no responsibility for the asphalt patch Toronto Hydro will no doubt ingloriously splatter over the recently paved sidewalk to cover the hole of their heritage pole.

P.S. My "Zombie pole dance" subject line was indeed designed to get your attention Jack. Thanks!
 
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nightstreak said:
PS. I hope they remove the other zombie pole.
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This one has neither cameras, nor wires attached to it. It may be a city of Toronto pole though, so it's possibly going to take over the heritage status of the other for decades to come. At least it's not in the way.
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You, sir, are a trouble-maker! That pole is certainly a Toronto (or maybe a Toronto Hydro) one, from 2016 Streetview it used to have a streetlight and a traffic light on it. I will report it to 311.....
 
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