Madison Group and Westdale Properties' new condo project The Capitol is named for a long shuttered, 1918-built theatre, a Midtown Toronto landmark that gives architectural character to its section of Yonge Street. With a mid-2021 project launch approaching, marketing is releasing details of the 14-storey, Turner Fleischer Architects and Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed building that will rise behind its heritage walls. 

Looking northwest to The Capitol, image courtesy of Madison/Westdale

Now, a new rendering focuses on the project's defining features, particularly its sign, canopy, and Yonge Street elevation architectural details. A report prepared by heritage specialists GBCA  Architects focuses on aspects of the preservation and restoration plan. 

Yonge Street facade at The Capitol, image courtesy of Madison/Westdale

With the modern construction to come above, three different eras of architecture are to be represented along the site's Yonge Street frontage. GBCA's report highlights the elements that will be retained, preserving not just the theatre's Classical revival style architecture—most prominently its two-storey arched window flanked by fluted pilasters, stone banding and cornice—but also Art Deco modifications made in 1946, including the swooping canopy and stainless steel finishes. A series of guiding principles informed the preservation plan, including the requirement to form a clear distinction between the new and the old, while adhering to a set of materials that create a dialogue between the two.

Detail view of retained Yonge Street frontage at The Capitol, image courtesy of Madison/Westdale

Heritage attributes are to be preserved and repaired, while also being cleared of paint additions on brick and masonry deemed unsympathetic to the original design intent. Other elements like the theatre's lobby and auditorium—their original interiors lost through extensive renovations through over a century of use—are to be demolished and reconstructed in place of the originals. These two rebuilt interiors will correspond with the existing spaces' heights, though will live on as retail space in place of the former entertainment uses.

First to come in the construction process, the Yonge Street elevation and a portion of the Castlefield Avenue elevation are to be preserved in-situ, held up by braces during construction. Next, all brick masonry is to be cleaned and restored, including the removal of paint not deemed essential to the building's character. Next, all interiors are to be removed, including interior partition walls, and all interior floors. Completion of this process will free up the east end of the site for the start of shoring activity, to be followed by excavation.

Before any shovels hit the ground though, the project is gearing up to launch, bringing 145 one, two, and three-bedroom residences to Midtown, supported by a collection of amenities from interior designers Studio Munge. 

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 in the space provided on this page.

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Related Companies:

Bousfields, Egis, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Grounded Engineering Inc., Madison Group, Rebar Enterprises Inc, Turner Fleischer Architects, WND Associates Ltd