15 years after re-opening as a new trendy hotspot for Toronto's West Queen West neighbourhood, The Drake Hotel's 1890-built facility is getting a modern expansion. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the new addition will feature 32 added hotel rooms linked to the existing hotel property via a third level connection over The Drake's rooftop patio, along with a stepped-back fifth floor with a partial cantilever over the open space.

Work on the site commenced in mid-2018, when the three properties east of the heritage hotel building were cleared—including a pair of heritage facades that will be integrated into the new build—to make way for the addition. Once the site was cleared, shoring and excavation operations began last fall, continuing into early January, 2019 when a tower crane was installed to begin assisting in the new structure's ascent.

Looking northeast to The Drake Hotel, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Several months into the process, the new build's steel-framed structure has reached its five-storey height above Queen Street, revealing the dramatic fifth-floor cantilevered section (above). The steel-decked floors have been topped in poured concrete, and panels of weatherproofing are now in place in advance of exterior cladding, while also hinting at the upcoming punched window pattern.

Looking northwest to The Drake Hotel, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

The cladding of the bulk of the addition is a playful take on the Victorian history of the site, with a ghostly-coloured brick wall, with bricks extending to trace former windows from lost buildings. At the same time, modern windows will punch through the facade to give the addition a contemporary spin on the area's established character. Cladding materials will be primarily be masonry panels with embedded brick veneers, plus bronze and chrome metallic finishes and pre-weathered metal panels around windows. The upper cantilevered level will be finished in a stainless steel enclosure.

The Drake Hotel expansion, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

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 below.

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