A proposed 72-storey, mixed-use tower set to become the tallest in Niagara Falls was approved at a Council meeting in that city yesterday evening. The condominium and hotel tower at 6609 Stanley Avenue is set to rise 253.45 m high, surpassing the 56-storey, 177.1 m/581 ft north tower of the Hilton Niagara Falls, which has been the tallest building in that city since 2009.

6609 Stanley Avenue, image courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects

Since news about the tower broke at the end of October, additional details and images have been released for the proposed landmark and its distinctive "bottle opener" design by Toronto-based Hariri Pontarini Architects, evocative of the 2008-built Shanghai World Financial Center. New renderings build off of the initial elevation diagrams, offering a better representation of the tower's massing and exterior finishes.

6609 Stanley Avenue on the Niagara Falls skyline, image courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects

Detailed renderings of the building's bottle opener crown includes high-definition views of the upper amenities, set to include a 56th-floor “sky lounge” topped by a “sky garden” with an outdoor infinity pool, and a “sky link” aerial bridge. All of these spaces would overlook the Falls and the existing city skyline in the foreground, as well as distant views of the Toronto and Buffalo skylines on clear days.

6609 Stanley Avenue, image courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects

Tuesday evening's public meeting resulted in the issuing of amendments to the City's official plan and zoning bylaw which allowed buildings as high as 30 storeys on that block. Around $2.7 million in community benefits are being implemented in exchange for the lofty 72-storey height.

Infinity pool at 6609 Stanley Avenue, image courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects

The tower will feature a 456-room hotel on its lower half, with 275 residential units housed above. This infusion of density will help to mend a longstanding tear in the local urban fabric, with a two-storey concrete hulk from an earlier failed hotel construction project currently occupying the development site, which has sat vacant for 15 years.

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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