Toronto RBC WaterPark Place III | 140.2m | 30s | Oxford Properties | WZMH

[Southcore]

Now that the weather has improved I've had several chances to get up close and personal with this building and it has got to be the worst office built (downtown) of this current boom. I recall that RBC selected this site/building over 16 York St because they apparently wanted a more no frills type building but this one is pretty bad. Thankfully with all the big towers surrounding it, sections of the gardiner coming down (opening up the park) and the new QQ done it'll be less noticeable.

 

[UrbanFervour]

Another generic building.

 

[mrxbombastic]

The juxtaposition of WPIII with its earlier incarnation makes things all the more brutal (also - I believe there are drawings for an original WPIII that would have matched the earlier incarnations?)

yup they were only rough possible ideas for marketing the potential of the space IIRC but they are included in these two photos noticeable in the rear of WP1&2

Check out Post 36 of this thread for the shots or see below.

Credit to Forum member CanadianNational for scouting these back then

 

[junctionist]

The original was a quality design. The cladding materials and colours seemed inspired by the nearby Harbour Commission Building. Too bad they didn't build the third tower as it was originally designed.

 

[officedweller]

Reading the text above (and looking at the terraced design) the 3rd tower would have been residential.
The text references a large multi-use complex combining residential with commercial space - the existing Waterpark Place only had office - so tower 3 would have been the residential part.

 

[pw20]

That's interesting. The original buildings said something and the galleria is a lovely space. They also remind me significantly of the World Financial Center in Manhattan.

 

[JasonParis]

That's interesting. The original buildings said something and the galleria is a lovely space. They also remind me significantly of the World Financial Center in Manhattan.

I always think that too. Their placement in their respective cities vis–à–vis the 'heart' of their financial districts is similar too.

 

[DarkSideDenizen]

Quick snap..

 

[AndreaPalladio]

I love the shot of the then Harbour Castle Hilton...

 

[DarkSideDenizen]

Forgot this one..

 

[BB ON]

RBC Waterpark Place III April 11 2014 by BB ON, on Flickr

 

[skube]

I took some crappy phone photos from a tour I did today if anyone is interested...

 

[interchange42]

Thanks for the tour!

42

 

[Zeiss]

skube, thank you for the pictures. As I live across the street and have to look at this building all the time I am very interested how is going to look. If you have more pictures, please post them.

 

[christiesplits]

At least the streetscape looks like it has potential.

I agree that this is a pretty disappointing project. So much banality between the lake and the train tracks. What I would do for some brick or warm coloured glass, especially on the other side of the Gardiner in Southcore.

10 York looks like it will mix up the sea of blue glass but I'm dreading it's spandrel and Tridel-quality craftsmanship.