taal
Senior Member
Is the fountain gone??
Toronto Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Toronto | 203.9m | 52s | Lifetime | a—A
Nope! It will sit in the middle of the courtyard. Rest easy.
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Ramako
Moderator
Can anyone spot the difference?
Old:
New:
Too bad.
Old:
New:
Too bad.
taal
Senior Member
There are a couple but the largest being the lack of the Four Seasons sign at the top in the new version ... not sure what to think of that - it may still be there for one and was simply left out of that rendering ... I think I'd rather the sign be there.
Good news about the fountain, thanks!
Good news about the fountain, thanks!
Jayomatic
Active Member
That cladding at the top looks like it's been shortened. Too bad indeed as it could have a been a nice finishing touch though this treatment is getting a bit tired. I would have preferred those vertical ribs on the south side integrating into some roof element similar to IFC
Solaris
Senior Member
The original seems to suggest glass fins at the top ... whereas the latest one shows the glass fins eliminated, leaving only glass panels covering the rooftop mechanical box
Okay, up we go!
[video=youtube;21zwoCT8lQ8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21zwoCT8lQ8[/video]
The hoist only goes to the 14th floor at the moment. After climbing the stairs for the remaining 4 floors, we come out under the forms in place to pour the 19th floor:
It's about time we introduced you to our tour guides, Joseph Francavilla, Menkes Vice PResident of Highrise Residential, and Goran Skara, Project Superintendent for the Four Seasons:
So, let's look around. Here's another shot of the forms that will hold the concrete that will become the 19th floor:
An empty bucket swings overhead, on its way back to the ground for more concrete:
Lots more rebar sticking out everywhere:
This will be the elevator shaft that will carry elevators to the condominium floors through the hotel floors that we are walking on now:
Getting close to the edge, we get a quick view of the Bloor Yonge area:
Here comes the next bicket of concrete up:
Looking up from there, we get a good look at 18 Yorkville, Moody sky behind; at least the rain has let up:
Over on the west side of the building, we have this view down Bay Street:
And finally, looking west acorss Yorkville, we can see the current Four Seasons from our perch at the new site.
Tomorrow we'll take you down the tower a bit, on to some of the floors below for a close-up look at the windows, and we'll wander out onto the loading platform.
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[video=youtube;21zwoCT8lQ8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21zwoCT8lQ8[/video]
The hoist only goes to the 14th floor at the moment. After climbing the stairs for the remaining 4 floors, we come out under the forms in place to pour the 19th floor:
It's about time we introduced you to our tour guides, Joseph Francavilla, Menkes Vice PResident of Highrise Residential, and Goran Skara, Project Superintendent for the Four Seasons:
So, let's look around. Here's another shot of the forms that will hold the concrete that will become the 19th floor:
An empty bucket swings overhead, on its way back to the ground for more concrete:
Lots more rebar sticking out everywhere:
This will be the elevator shaft that will carry elevators to the condominium floors through the hotel floors that we are walking on now:
Getting close to the edge, we get a quick view of the Bloor Yonge area:
Here comes the next bicket of concrete up:
Looking up from there, we get a good look at 18 Yorkville, Moody sky behind; at least the rain has let up:
Over on the west side of the building, we have this view down Bay Street:
And finally, looking west acorss Yorkville, we can see the current Four Seasons from our perch at the new site.
Tomorrow we'll take you down the tower a bit, on to some of the floors below for a close-up look at the windows, and we'll wander out onto the loading platform.
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steveve
Senior Member
INCREDIBLE stuff Urban toronto! wow does this give us a whole new perspective on things! The Bay Street streetwall looks really stunning from above! Really awesome place to built such a tower... and in that shot of Yonge/Bloor, i can't wait till 1 Bloor and Cumberland are built to add some more density to the area 
awesome stuff guys!!!
awesome stuff guys
!!!
Okay, here we go, back in to the tower...
There was a fair bit of water on the floor - rain had just ended.
Here are Joe, Goran, and Ed, taking in the view from the 14th floor. No windows this high up yet.
Ed grabs a shot...
...something like this, looking down at the site of Tower 2:
Over on the south side, there's this - the loading platform - hanging out over the edge.
You see these at most highrise construction sites. For those with any amount of acrophobia (me, Ed) the idea of stepping out on to one is somewhat daunting.
The platforms are held down by all these posts that press against the floor above.
Feeling safer, it was time to venture out:
Not a bad view, huh? Back inside, and down on the 11th floor, we got a look at the shaft where the crane had once been:
Look up, and you can see the bottom of the crane attached to the 14th floor slab:
Look down, and you can see down as far as the 4th foor where rebar has gone in prior to the hole being filled with concrete:
You might have noticed that on the 11th floor, the windows are in:
Close up, you can see the fins that are attached to the south side.
Here's a fin, waiting for its day in the sun. The fins will also be installed on the tower's north facade.
If that was a fin, this is a wing:
... and still focused on the windows, here is one of the operable ones. They're pretty big actually, over a foot high.
This view is to the northwest, past the Regency across Bay Street:
And this view will someday feature tower 2:
To finish our tour, we head down here tomorrow, into the podium:
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There was a fair bit of water on the floor - rain had just ended.
Here are Joe, Goran, and Ed, taking in the view from the 14th floor. No windows this high up yet.
Ed grabs a shot...
...something like this, looking down at the site of Tower 2:
Over on the south side, there's this - the loading platform - hanging out over the edge.
You see these at most highrise construction sites. For those with any amount of acrophobia (me, Ed) the idea of stepping out on to one is somewhat daunting.
The platforms are held down by all these posts that press against the floor above.
Feeling safer, it was time to venture out:
Not a bad view, huh? Back inside, and down on the 11th floor, we got a look at the shaft where the crane had once been:
Look up, and you can see the bottom of the crane attached to the 14th floor slab:
Look down, and you can see down as far as the 4th foor where rebar has gone in prior to the hole being filled with concrete:
You might have noticed that on the 11th floor, the windows are in:
Close up, you can see the fins that are attached to the south side.
Here's a fin, waiting for its day in the sun. The fins will also be installed on the tower's north facade.
If that was a fin, this is a wing:
... and still focused on the windows, here is one of the operable ones. They're pretty big actually, over a foot high.
This view is to the northwest, past the Regency across Bay Street:
And this view will someday feature tower 2:
To finish our tour, we head down here tomorrow, into the podium:
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steveve
Senior Member
Thanks again UT!
Its cool how huge the above-ground parking structure is next-door... at first glance i though that parking area was ground level! it looks kinda funny for some reason ...Really weird view if you ask me
Its cool how huge the above-ground parking structure is next-door... at first glance i though that parking area was ground level! it looks kinda funny for some reason ...Really weird view if you ask me
You know, Steveve, the same question came to my mind, and I know Ed's wondering about that garage too. It does take up a large amount of real estate when looking south, and while it's not like it would be redeveloped just to improve the view for well-healed Four Seasons Hotel guests, there will be more many more eyes on it soon, and subsequently more people pondering the future of the garage. Despite the wide-open top floor, the garage is very well used by vehicles, but maybe the Toronto Parking Authority will start thinking about the value of that property, and consider a higher and better use for it, so to speak, or at least incorporating their garage into the basement levels of a complex that could rise on the site. Time will bring some change to that site, one way or the other!
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AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
It might happen sooner than later - there is a push to monetize city assets and TPA is one of the agencies targeted:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-30931.pdf - on TPA (p. 5):
AoD
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-30931.pdf - on TPA (p. 5):
AoD
Traynor
Senior Member
^ I would rather a different approach to that particular parking garage....
- First, I suggest adding three or four more floors, to accommodate twice the number of cars and reduce the need for other nearby parking lots. (Which could then be developed as seen fit.) I am an environmentalist at heart, but denying cars in the core chokes off true economic growth in North American cities.
- Second the top floor should be a giant green roof with the ability to husband full-grown trees such as maples or oaks or better yet, elm trees. The grounds should be landscaped with meandering paths, water features and even a slight hill for a change in terrain. There should be benches, and tables for eating a quick lunch in the day and soft lighting to illuminate the paths at night.
- And finally, (and perhaps most importantly) this new urban park should have sky bridges that link it to nearby developments. Such as one from the new Four Seasons Hotel so guests and residents could use the park. Also, a future spot for a bridge to the planned Cumberland Terrace redevelopment for their residents and office workers.
A true urban oasis in the sky.
Just a thought.
- First, I suggest adding three or four more floors, to accommodate twice the number of cars and reduce the need for other nearby parking lots. (Which could then be developed as seen fit.) I am an environmentalist at heart, but denying cars in the core chokes off true economic growth in North American cities.
- Second the top floor should be a giant green roof with the ability to husband full-grown trees such as maples or oaks or better yet, elm trees. The grounds should be landscaped with meandering paths, water features and even a slight hill for a change in terrain. There should be benches, and tables for eating a quick lunch in the day and soft lighting to illuminate the paths at night.
- And finally, (and perhaps most importantly) this new urban park should have sky bridges that link it to nearby developments. Such as one from the new Four Seasons Hotel so guests and residents could use the park. Also, a future spot for a bridge to the planned Cumberland Terrace redevelopment for their residents and office workers.
A true urban oasis in the sky.
Just a thought.
steveve
Senior Member
EXACTLY!
^^^^ though the parking structure does not need to be destroyed, a green roof at the top would be awesome... cause right now all you see is the parking grids and a flat parking structure.And especially if Cumberland terrrace is built, this parking lot will be bad for those towers too..
the cool thing about this skyscraper is its location. Its got a sorta downtown feel and at the same time not... Its situated very north from most of the skyscrapers and the neighbourhood has a very different feel (hence yorkville).. strange to build such a tall/all glass skyscraper here (but i love it
)
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urbandreamer
recession proof
I think the parking garage should be redeveloped. Why not put parking structures in the alleys?