Toronto Old City Hall Proposals

[Richard White]

I rather suspect size is one issue. Accessibility. Air-conditioning.

Likely not insurmountable, but at what price?

The reason it was vacated by the courts was because it was not longer suitable as office space in present condition.

The HVAC was antiquated, there was limited wifi and the building itself required upgrades to modern standards. It was likely easier to build a modern building than to retrofit an existing one which is outdated.

 

[Doppleganger]

Fair enough. Good to get different perspective and I know many here would agree with you. I don't. Nathan Phillips' City Hall was certainly architecturally significant when it opened and touted as a modern wonder, but not sure it's going to age well. 100 years from now Old City Hall will still be iconic, with the red sandstone exterior mined from nearby quarries (same as Queens Park).

Anyway, while stuctures like Revell's City Hall, Zeidler's Ontario Place or Moriyama's Science Centre, were all architecturally and creatively and important when they opened, I think they have a shelf life and their replacements one day will allow for new creative renewals.

For some reason, buildings that are in the fifty to sixty-year-old range always tend to be at their most vulnerable. Probably because they are still too young to be considered historically significant or to have acquired 'iconic' status and just old enough to be considered 'out of date' by current trends and tastes. That is how we lost buildings like the Temple Building, the Toronto Star Building, the Board of Trade Building and how we almost lost Old City Hall. In a city as relatively young as Toronto, we must resist this trend and allow these buildings the opportunity to grow old gracefully otherwise we risk becoming a city with little of its past preserved for future generations.

 

[jje1000]

For some reason, buildings that are in the fifty to sixty-year-old range always tend to be at their most vulnerable. Probably because they are still too young to be considered historically significant or to have acquired 'iconic' status and just old enough to be considered 'out of date' by current trends and tastes. That is how we lost buildings like the Temple Building, the Toronto Star Building, the Board of Trade Building and how we almost lost Old City Hall. In a city as relatively young as Toronto, we must resist this trend and allow these buildings the opportunity to grow old gracefully otherwise we risk becoming a city with little of its past preserved for future generations.

Also when building systems and wall assemblies start breaking down and requiring replacements. Some styles of architecture will also tend to age less gracefully than other as well, especially with neglect.

 

[christiesplits]

I'd love to see a Tate quality-gallery combined with an Artscape-style community of artists.

We would definitely need a massive patron to get the ball rolling.

For perspective, the largest donation to the arts in Canadian history was $75 million to Calgary's Arts Commons, excluding gifts of arts collections.

 

[Towered]

Maybe it should be a huge nightclub!

 

[thecharioteer]

My opinion is that with any sort of repurposing of Old City Hall, there's an equally great opportunity to finally rework and stitch together the Old City Hall and Nathan Philip Square forecourts.

Bay Street between the two buildings needs to be transformed away from its current status as a car gutter, and the awful muddy lawn around New City Hall needs to go as well, fulfilling the original intent of the square's redesign and perhaps acting as a less formal space compared to the main square within the colonnade.

Finally, my personal opinion is that the area in front of Old City Hall should be entirely transformed into a large shallow staircase and plaza where people can sit, gather, and people-watch, especially considering its position between the Eaton Centre and New City Hall.

Imagine if we had our own small version of the Spanish Steps or the staircase in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Maybe not as dramatic and atmospheric, but the opportunity is there.

View attachment 637384
View attachment 637386

In addition to the annual remembrance day ceremonies, the front steps played a central role in the civic life of the city as the backdrop to welcome visiting royalty, politicians, movie and sport stars, Miss Toronto as well as providing the place to take group photographs. The Archives has hundreds of such photos:

 

[Towered]

Why did everyone look so old?

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Any guesses to who is which in any of those? I have a hunch at a couple or so, but they may not be historically accurate... >.<

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

The City Hall branch of the Toronto Library should move to the Old City Hall.

 

[nightstreak]

The City Hall branch of the Toronto Library should move to the Old City Hall. View attachment 637603View attachment 637604

I think that was/is the plan. The library and wedding chapel are supposed to move to Old City Hall. The library could be much larger and the chapel could host more elaborate weddings that could fund the building's ongoing costs. The courtyard would be perfect for hosting summer wedding receptions.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I think that was/is the plan. The library and wedding chapel are supposed to move to Old City Hall. The library could be much larger and the chapel could host more elaborate weddings that could fund the building's ongoing costs. The courtyard would be perfect for hosting summer wedding receptions.

It was - from the 2018 city report:

Half of the ground floor.


AoD

 

[thecharioteer]

Any guesses to who is which in any of those? I have a hunch at a couple or so, but they may not be historically accurate... >.<

A few hints: Sterling Hayden, Mary Pickford, Lloyd George and Rocket Richard.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

It was - from the 2018 city report:

View attachment 637605

Half of the ground floor.


AoD

Hmm. Could the attic and third floor be used as emergency shelters, subsidized housing, or low-cost housing? Would need more electrical and plumbing work to make it work, however. Needs sound insulation, of course.

 

[Richard White]

Hmm. Could the attic and third floor be used as emergency shelters, subsidized housing, or low-cost housing? Would need more electrical and plumbing work to make it work, however. Needs sound insulation, of course.

Over my dead body.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Over my dead body.

Close. Turner & Porter Funeral Home used to be located at 9 and 11 Queen Street West.

See https://www.shopbloorwest.com/turnerandporter/about