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Since our last update in June, the removal of hoarding from the street level facade of the historic National Hotel has revealed more of the restored exterior details which will complete the podium level of King Plus Development's King + Condos. Designed by TACT Architecture, the 17-storey condo now nearing completion at the corner of Sherbourne and King Streets rests elegantly above the former National Hotel, a handsome yellow-brick structure which dates back to the 1850s.
Now that the hoarding has come down, many of the historic hotel's distinct, heritage features can be seen, having been restored to their former glory. The arched entranceway—complete with a set of Ionic stone columns—can now be made out, with its intricate, decorative brickwork that also frames the ground-level sash windows. Modern windows replicate the original dimensions and divided lights, bringing an impressive level of authenticity and historic aesthetic to the heritage structure's 160-year-old facades. Restoration efforts have also progressed since the summer on the repair and repainting of the hotel's first-and-third-storey cornices.
To the immediate east of the heritage frontage, the facade transitions to the adjacent red-brick Abbey Lane Lofts via a new buff brick-faced addition, although the brick on the modern frontage has yet to be laid. Taken together, the final result will create a sense of aesthetic, material continuity which is becoming rarer in today's Toronto.
Once complete, the 132-unit condo will bring even more density to this rapidly transforming corner of the city, all while preserving some of the past of one of Toronto's earliest urban neighbourhoods. Showcased in the final image below, the rendering of the soon to be finished product will be a welcome addition to the downtown east side.
UrbanToronto will continue to provide updates as progress continues. For more information check out our dataBase file or join the conversation on our Forum.
