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A revised planning submission to the City presents changes to a mid-rise office complex proposed in Toronto's Lower Junction area. Known as T3 Sterling Road, the proposal is the latest in a series of timber-framed T3-branded office buildings from developer Hines. It was announced late last year when their submission to the City replaced a previous plan by Castlepoint Numa and Greybrook Realty Partners—which was to be known as the Draft Building—that was cancelled. The building is proposed to rise next to the recently-revitalized Tower Automotive Building, new home to Toronto's Museum of Contemporary Art.
The new application, once again seeking Site Plan Approval, includes several new images of the two buildings of six and eight storeys designed by Chicago-based DLR Group working with Toronto-based WZMH Architects. Updates in the new set of documents reflect changes made following comments received from City staff to the November, 2019 submission, including the relocation of cross-bracing from the exterior (compare the images above and below), into the interior of the building.
In some places the interior cross bracing should still be visible from outside the building. The interiors will be most marked by the mass timber posts, beams, and ceiling sections.
Other architectural revisions visible in the new images include a reduction in balcony depths at the east end of the six-storey east building, and the addition of black granite finishes at the base of the west building, differentiating it from the matte black steel finishes and heritage-sensitive window treatments that would enclose much of the complex.
Other revisions are less evident in the new renderings included in the submission, such as minor issues relating to site servicing, drainage, stormwater management, fire services, and hydrant locations.
Changes have also been introduced to the landscape plan, specifically the site's relationship to the adjacent West Toronto Rail Path. The previous submission showed connections to the path on the north and south sides of the eight-storey west building, since revised to prioritize the south side connection as the primary link to the path. The previous north connection has been replaced as an outdoor spill-out zone to support activities for the office and ground-floor retail uses and informal pedestrian space.
While the nature of the refinements indicates that the plan is rapidly moving towards a shovel-ready status, there are additional steps beyond City Council approval and the issuing of permits. A Holding symbol applying to the site must be lifted before above-grade construction activity is allowed, which is expected to be resolved through the Site Plan Approval submission. An additional Minor Variance application will be submitted to reflect changes proposed for the building envelope and parking.
You can learn more by visiting the project's Database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field below.
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