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On the west edge of Toronto's St. Lawrence neighbourhood, a new public space is materializing behind construction hoarding. With construction now practically complete at Cityzen Development Group, Fernbrook Homes and Castlepoint Numa's L-Tower, one of the final elements of the project is nearing completion at the southeast corner of Yonge and Front Streets: a total revitalization of the public plaza north of the tower which it will share with the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.
Designed by landscape architects Claude Cormier + Associés of Montreal, the 3,700 m2 (0.9-acre) space negotiates the meeting place of these two important buildings. The L Tower’s "shard volumes"—a podium space beside the tower that houses a pool and mechanical elements—and the early modernist aesthetic of Peter Dickinson's 1960 performing arts centre are now bridged by the plaza's angular checkerboard paving pattern of black and white granite tiles.
Three large twisting objects that make up a public art installation called 'The Dream Ballet', remain wrapped for the moment under blue protective membranes on the plaza. The steel sculptures are the work of Toronto artist Harley Valentine, and will be unveiled to the public on December 8.
The skewed, acute angles of the paving pattern will be offset by a fogging system and softscaping—depicted as a meadow-like garden along the west and north sides of the plaza. Below, a rendering of the plaza shows the intended outcome for the work here.
While other parts of the Sony Centre's plaza area have yet to be made over, one block to the east on Front Street, another much-anticipated public space by Claude Cormier + Associés is nearing completion. The Berczy Park revitalization is expected to wrap up shortly, with softscaped areas (grass) and the space's signature fountain to be temporarily fenced in as work continues following a soft opening in early December. During this time, the fountain's remaining dog figurines will be completed and installed, with a full community opening for the public space expected to take place next spring.
Additional information about the L Tower can be found in the project's attached dataBase file. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.
| Related Companies: | Castlepoint Numa, CCxA, Milborne Group, Rebar Enterprises Inc |
