2 King West (reclad & renos)

[adma]

If it's that kind of reclad, I suspect FCP's more the motivating factor--in which case, we're dealing with a case of whatever the result there, it makes for an awful office-building-rehab precedent.

And of course, I can anticipate UT's usual gang of proudly historically ignorant whatevers welcoming such a scheme as a "freshening up of a tired building", followed by their requisite jabs at fuddy-duddy adma for having no respect for freedom of opinion and freedom of taste and whatever else...

 

[Automation Gallery]

If it's that kind of reclad, I suspect FCP's more the motivating factor--in which case, we're dealing with a case of whatever the result there, it makes for an awful office-building-rehab precedent.

And of course, I can anticipate UT's usual gang of proudly historically ignorant whatevers welcoming such a scheme as a "freshening up of a tired building", followed by their requisite jabs at fuddy-duddy adma for having no respect for freedom of opinion and freedom of taste and whatever else...

adma, its not about what you and other people think, but about energy efficiency and staying competitive in this strong office market.
With so many new and proposed office towers going up, the older ones will just have no choice but to keep up with the times

Just like buying, and retro/fitting an old Eduardian or Victorian house...as beautiful as that slate roof, old stained glass, or leaded window may look, most of the original out-dated building materials will eventually have to go, and make way for new more energy-efficient products....
And boo hoo, if people dont like the final product and what they see...

 

[adma]

adma, its not about what you and other people think, but about energy efficiency and staying competitive in this strong office market.
With so many new and proposed office towers going up, the older ones will just have no choice but to keep up with the times

Just like buying, and retro/fitting an old Eduardian or Victorian house...as beautiful as that slate roof, old stained glass, or leaded window may look, most of the original out-dated building materials will eventually have to go, and make way for new more energy-efficient products....
And boo hoo, if people dont like the final product and what they see...

Except that energy efficient retrofits of said Edwardians or Victorians needn't involve the trashing of said slate roofs and stained/leaded glass on behalf of energy efficiency.

And in case you didn't notice, 111 Richmond/Google demonstrates your argument in a you-can-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too way...

 

[Automation Gallery]

Except that energy efficient retrofits of said Edwardians or Victorians needn't involve the trashing of said slate roofs and stained/leaded glass on behalf of energy efficiency...

True, thats if you have a cart full of money to work around the the original details

 

[SP!RE]

True, thats if you have a cart full of money to work around the the original details

All those developers (who you love so much) have deep pockets... if they are going to update their buildings, it's not that much higher of a cost to work around heritage details, so long as they take that cost into account up-front.

 

[Automation Gallery]

All those developers (who you love so much) have deep pockets... if they are going to update their buildings, it's not that much higher of a cost to work around heritage details, so long as they take that cost into account up-front.

Hmm, i dont know about, not that much higher
Just a small residential job....here is an example of a recent replacement of a small window

Quote
Arched 36x18in. stain glass window......square it off and install new green-star wood casement window....$850,
keep arch, scrap stain glass window and install arched new window as above................$1600
keep arch, recondition and re-install original stain glass with new window....................$3500

 

[SP!RE]

2 King West doesn't have any arched windows or stained glass. It's a building that represents mass-production every bit the same as a brand-new condo. It can be restored and updated to better environmental standards without sacrificing any of its current aesthetic.

 

[adma]

Hmm, i dont know about, not that much higher
Just a small residential job....here is an example of a recent replacement of a small window

Quote
Arched 36x18in. stain glass window......square it off and install new green-star wood casement window....$850,
keep arch, scrap stain glass window and install arched new window as above................$1600
keep arch, recondition and re-install original stain glass with new window....................$3500

Or, ask yourself whether the job is really necessary for the task at hand. I mean, yeah, "green-star" might make you seem conscientious, but there's a reason why certain heritage professionals and the like warn against "green-washing" (y'know, vested interests acting as a rather ironic granola version of your proverbial aluminum siding salesman)