Eaton Centre (Ongoing Renewal) | ?m | ?s | Cadillac Fairview | Zeidler

[JasonParis]

It wasn't perfect urbanistically but was miles ahead design-wise than the current pastiche. I can't help but think that CF will address this soon. Even though nobody, including me, will probably be very happy with what they propose.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

It wasn't perfect urbanistically but was miles ahead design-wise than the current pastiche. I can't help but think that CF will address this soon. Even though nobody, including me, will probably be very happy with what they propose.

I can’t imagine CF would do anything that would result in a loss of square footage they’ve gained from that redo - it was a small amount for the amount of money put in, but I can see them hedging on the city’s own Yonge plans.

What really should be questioned is the judgement of planners and decision makers that signed off on this plan that traded public space for private property of such poor quality.

AoD

 

[TossYourJacket]

I think CF did a pretty decent job with the North side of the Rideau Centre in Ottawa during the latest renovation there. It's pretty much all street-facing entrances for stores or restaurants that only open to the street now. It would probably require reorgansing a lot of units in the Eaton Centre to do something similar though.

 

[ProjectEnd]

I can’t imagine CF would do anything that would result in a loss of square footage they’ve gained from that redo - it was a small amount for the amount of money put in, but I can see them hedging on the city’s own Yonge plans.

What really should be questioned is the judgement of planners and decision makers that signed off on this plan that traded public space for private property of such poor quality.

AoD

I would assume that the original Eaton Centre east side set back was on its own property. Not a heck of a lot the city can do if that was the case. The result is beyond unfortunate though...

 

[WislaHD]

I think the setback to the Eaton Centre on the Yonge Street frontage is fine.

The City should look at a road diet for Yonge Street instead.

 

[MetroMan]

They did a really great job with this:

One thing I'd have loved to have seen is if they'd extended that cylindrical corner all the way down to the sidewalk, like it used to be originally. The Uniqlo and Samsung store facades create a bland monotonous break. Maybe some time in the future when the Samsung store vacates the space. Here's hoping...

The glass used in the BMO facade is beautiful. I'd love to see them rebuild the atrium/podium in that.

 

[junctionist]

Except for TD Centre.

Even there, they made some questionable choices over the years like awkwardly building over the old Toronto Stock Exchange Building with a Miesian clone, getting rid of Mies' fonts for storefront signage, and adding the giant backlit TD signs.

 

[DavidCapizzano]

I agree with the comment about the Mies clones, especially the one on Bay which morphs into a weird Pomo International style fusion as it reaches the stock exchange building. They’re weird and confusing since it’s unclear aside from a small plaque on site that states Mies only designed 77 King, 100 Wellington and the pavilion, but I am not sure I agree re; the fonts.

If you’re a fan of architecture and know about the history of the complex, that section of the path is really luxurious and exciting because of all of the details you know to look for (I once mentioned the tile ceilings in the lobby of 77 King to someone who had worked in the complex for 7 years without ever noticing them). However, to the average person who might be passing through the concourse comes across as dim, confusing and oppressive right down to the awkward hinge doors you need to pass through to enter the complex. The single file escalators and hard to notice signage means you’re never really sure which building of the complex you’re under, and a few are accessible only via obscure and foreboding small hallways which shoot off of the main retail concourse.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

I think the setback to the Eaton Centre on the Yonge Street frontage is fine.

The City should look at a road diet for Yonge Street instead.

The road needs to be as wide as possible for the 2% of people on Yonge that are crazy enough to drive.

 

[innsertnamehere]

I'd love to peel back the garbage, 90s, Potemkin, Yonge Street facade and bring back the more complex, high-tech expression that used to be there. Much wider sidewalks too!

+1.

The Eaton Centre has slowly been desecrated by 1000 cuts over the last 4 decades (well, really 2). I understand the realities of operating a modern shopping complex and the requirements to constantly update, but I would appreciate it if they had put a bit more effort of integrating the spirit of the original design. The only real significant part that seems to be left is the glass roof which is in itself in really poor condition. While I'm pretty young, I even recall the mall with the original handrails and the large amounts of greenery on the interior. That spirit is all gone now beyond the fountain.

 

[Towered]

+1.

The Eaton Centre has slowly been desecrated by 1000 cuts over the last 4 decades (well, really 2). I understand the realities of operating a modern shopping complex and the requirements to constantly update, but I would appreciate it if they had put a bit more effort of integrating the spirit of the original design. The only real significant part that seems to be left is the glass roof which is in itself in really poor condition. While I'm pretty young, I even recall the mall with the original handrails and the large amounts of greenery on the interior. That spirit is all gone now beyond the fountain.

They didn't even bother to replace all of the old handrails. Some are still there if you look up.

 

[MetroMan]

+1.

The Eaton Centre has slowly been desecrated by 1000 cuts over the last 4 decades (well, really 2). I understand the realities of operating a modern shopping complex and the requirements to constantly update, but I would appreciate it if they had put a bit more effort of integrating the spirit of the original design. The only real significant part that seems to be left is the glass roof which is in itself in really poor condition. While I'm pretty young, I even recall the mall with the original handrails and the large amounts of greenery on the interior. That spirit is all gone now beyond the fountain.

I loved the original Eaton Centre with its white handrails and lush plants and trees everywhere at different levels. I deeply miss the Cineplex Odeon with its own Dundas atrium. It played a central role in my childhood.

Malls however are by nature meant to evolve. Stores change and update their own designs. Malls that don't evolve start to look outdated and people gravitate to the fresh new place. I remember the Galleria Mall was always full of people in the 80s. Unlike anything I've seen in Toronto, it got completely frozen in time. I'm fairly certain that the gum ball machine by the entrance is the same one I used to put dimes into when I was 8 years old. The mall didn't change, and it died.

If you look closely, the Eaton Centre's latest wave to refresh its appearance came after Yorkdale's 2000s expansions. That mall started to get busier and busier as they rebuilt Yorkdale to modern standards. It even has an Eaton Centre inspired atrium, albeit with modern materials. Soon after, Cadillac Fairview started making announcements to tenants that they'd be making their own updates.

This is a competition. Malls are built as evolving canvasses and they must evolve to the detriment of our childhood memories.

 

[Richard White]

Malls however are by nature meant to evolve. Stores change and update their own designs. Malls that don't evolve start to look outdated and people gravitate to the fresh new place. I remember the Galleria Mall was always full of people in the 80s. Unlike anything I've seen in Toronto, it got completely frozen in time. I'm fairly certain that the gum ball machine by the entrance is the same one I used to put dimes into when I was 8 years old. The mall didn't change, and it died

That is what happened to Morningside Mall in Scarborough. In 2007 it was the same mall I went to in 1992 and even in 1992 it was dated. That particular mall had not changed since the 1970s and as such nobody wanted to go there despite being the only mall in the area. Even Wal-Mart abandoned it.

That said.. if the eaton centre still had its mid 1990s appearance nobody would go there. It would be that dingy unattractive mall you avoid.

 

[MetroMan]

if the eaton centre still had its mid 1990s appearance nobody would go there. It would be that dingy unattractive mall you avoid.

I do think people have a hard time accepting this. Without going through allowing the mall to remain dated, we can't know for sure but I do believe that if they hadn't refreshed the look of the Eaton Centre to make it "new again", that people would choose to go to Yorkdale to spend their day. Of course, being downtown, the Eaton Centre would still be busy but then again, look at the Atrium. It's right there at the crossroads of Canada's busiest pedestrian intersection and on some days you could bowl down the empty halls.

Still, I think that Cadillac Fairview could embrace more of the details that gave Eaton Centre its personality in the 80s. Right now, it's too sterile. Bring back the lush trees and bring back places to sit.

Then again...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1209928977638469633

I mean... look at how lush the Eaton Centre was.

 

[Richard White]

Of course, being downtown, the Eaton Centre would still be busy but then again, look at the Atrium. It's right there at the crossroads of Canada's busiest pedestrian intersection and on some days you could bowl down the empty halls.

I used to work at the Atrium in 2007 and even then it was a dive. Back then you had the Ontario Tourism store, Blacks and the Pickle Barrel which were worth seeing. I was in there recently and it is more office tower than it is a mall. It screams 1980s.