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Recent additions to the Bremner Boulevard streetscape at the foot of the CN Tower in have boosted tourism options in this area of Toronto. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada and the Rec Room at Roundhouse Park have become popular destinations in a nascent entertainment node. Public realm improvements outside the doors of the CN Tower and the Aquarium have attempted to install a unified ground plane aesthetic, and now another proposed attraction aims to embed itself in this emergent tourist hub.
A Site Plan Approval application for an immersive flight ride with full motion seating was submitted to the City earlier this year by FlyOver Canada and Canada Lands Company. The Sturgess Architecture-designed facility had its first presentation in front of the City of Toronto's Design Review Panel last week, a meeting which was hosted virtually.
The four-storey, 2,634 m² building will contain two immersive pre-ride experiences and a flight ride moving in concert with the film, taking viewers on a 6,000-kilometre 4D virtual journey across Canada on a 20-metre wraparound screen. Similar in length to the FlyOver Canada attraction in Vancouver, the experience is expected to last between 30 and 40 minutes, with a total projected stay of between 60 and 90 minutes. A cafe, retail and lounge bar with patios on the ground floor and rooftop are also proposed.
The building employs non-orthogonal geometry to reflect mountainous landscapes on the lower half, and dichroic shingles to mimic the materiality of the aurora borealis on the upper half. A timber-supported glass wall lets light filter into the lobby space on the eastern elevation. A new public connection from the plaza to the concourse is proposed alongside the northeastern edge of the building.
A series of gardens reflecting diverse Canadian landscapes are proposed by Plant Architect. The South Garden, interacting with the existing Salmon Run Fountain beside Rogers Centre, represents the Boreal Forest. An outdoor patio for the cafe will be located on the southern elevation of the building, surrounded by coniferous trees and shrubs.
The eastern side of the building adjacent to the main entrance will be accented by granite and precast concrete pavers and seating areas, with several heavy timber benches also envisioned. This Entry Garden combined with the rooftop amenity space falls under the Laurentia region, which would be infused with deciduous shrubs, grasses and perennials.
The Stair Garden and North Garden represent the rugged tundra. Additional granite and precast concrete pavers are proposed, alongside some shrubs and perennials that are tolerant of lower light. This part of the property sits above the basements of the CN Tower and Rogers Centre.
Comments from the panel recognized the challenges of the space, which one member described as "grey on grey on grey." Several panelists thought the west elevation facing the Rogers Centre needed additional articulation, and in its current state, was described by one panelist as "bleak and monolithic."
Most panelists were in agreement that the building needed additional warmth and texture, with some expressing that the ruggedness of the Canadian landscape is not expressed as clearly as it could be, suggesting a granite-like material for the lower floors. Panelists appreciated the "chameleon quality" of the skin on the building's crown, but noted that the structure as a whole could be simplified, and textural elements could be employed to further differentiate the facade of the two volumes.
Multiple members of the panel also reflected on the proposed landscaping, believing that the plan was "trying to do too much." Panelists recommended less diversity of tree species, focusing instead on "sticking with something with great presence throughout the year." One member also suggested the landscape plan as presented was not an adequate replacement of the 30 trees that will be lost to make way for the building.
Another comment questioned how public spaces will change in the aftermath of COVID-19, explaining that perhaps more open areas were needed in the age of social distancing. One member likened the proposal to an "urban repair project", noting that although the space is currently "horrible", it feels like a "big city place" that deserves intervention.
Gordon Stratford, Co-Chair of the Design Review Panel, preceded the vote by acknowledging the panel's comments and agreeing that the project should be simplified, also explaining that the building "has to sing on all sides and add more to the space than it takes away." Right now, he said, it's easy for things to get lost in the "mess of visuals" defining the space.
Votes for non-support outweighed votes for support seven to four. Non-support means the project does not meet fundamental excellence objectives, and the Panel advises the project be substantially redesigned to address the issues identified during the discussion. The project is expected to return for a second review at the Design Review Panel at an unannounced date.
We will keep you updated as the project continues to work its way through the planning process, but in the meantime, you can join learn more about the project in our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can get in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread.
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| Related Companies: | Arcadis, Bousfields, entro, PCL Construction, RJC Engineers, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, Walters Group |
