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Plans continue to evolve for Oxford Properties Group's proposed office tower they call The HUB at Bay and Harbour streets in Toronto's South Core. Following a late 2018 resubmission to the City for the 60-storey Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners-designed project, the plan has now appeared for the second time before the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel (WT DRP) for comment.
The revisions address concerns raised at the project’s first WT DRP appearance, where the panel voted for conditional support of the project pending resolution of a few issues. These included improvements to the public realm, the relationship of the podium to the lobby, and the expression of the building relative to its structural design.
Among the many changes introduced in the new version, the tower’s central core has been rotated by 90 degrees to provide improved connectivity between the lobby and PATH levels. This change fosters a stronger axial connection from the PATH through the elevator core to Bay Street, while helping to animate the tower’s lobby as viewed from Bay Street.
Connection to the PATH system is proposed via an atrium that encloses and frames the north facade of the incorporated heritage building at 60 Harbour Street. Another draft rendering, below, shows the heritage building’s impact on southwards views through the lobby.
Drawing inspiration from existing conditions, the proposed building’s grid-like design language, and the original shoreline and natural landscapes of Lake Ontario, the project’s public realm plan introduces several changes designed to improve pedestrian connections.
Sustainability is a top priority for the project, which is seeking LEED v4 Gold Core & Shell Certification, Toronto Green Standard v3 Tier 1 status, Waterfront Toronto Mandatory Green Building Requirements (MGBR), and CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Certification. This would be implemented with features including triple-glazed curtain wall, LED lighting with daylight/occupancy sensors, and high-efficiency HVAC systems. Other sustainability features currently being considered include Deep Lake Water Cooling and low-carbon heating systems.
Minutes of feedback from the WT DRP members are not yet available.
Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
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| Related Companies: | Adamson Associates Architects, Peter McCann Architectural Models Inc., RJC Engineers, Urban Strategies Inc. |
