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A popular spot in Toronto's West Queen West neighbourhood is undergoing a modern expansion, giving The Drake Hotel's 1890-built main building a contemporary counterpart. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the expansion will bring another 32 hotel rooms to the site, linked to the existing hotel property via a third level connection passing above the hotel's existing rooftop patio, with the addition topped by a partially cantilevered and stepped-back fifth floor.
Roughly two years into construction, much has been accomplished. Three properties east of the heritage hotel building were cleared in mid-2018, including a pair of heritage facades that will be replicated in the addition. Shoring and excavation work followed January, 2019 when a tower crane was installed to begin forming of the new building. When we last checked in on the site's progress back in September, 2019, structural work on the building had just wrapped up, and preparations were being made for the first exterior finishes.
It's been an eventful nine months since that update, with changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic slowing progress at most construction sites, even those deemed essential by the Province in the early days of the crisis. Despite the challenges, work on the addition has made noticeable progress, with exterior finish installation for the new wing practically complete, enclosing the yellow weatherproofing/insulation that covered the exterior in our September update.
Though still partially obscured by a construction scaffold, exterior details for the addition are now largely visible to passersby. Clad in masonry panels with muted-coloured brick veneers, the addition takes a modern spin on the site's Victorian heritage, with finishes tracing the former windows and architectural details of the previous buildings on site. Modern punched windows in a randomized pattern cut through the Victorian details to blend the old and new aesthetics. Weatherproofing and insulation are still visible on the building's upper cantilevered level, where a stainless steel enclosure will contrast the masonry finishes below.
The expansion is anticipated to open its doors later this year.
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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| Related Companies: | Blackwell, Diamond Schmitt Architects, SKYGRiD |
