Toronto Life Square, 10 Dundas Street East

Function:
$200+ million urban entertainment centre.

Features:
Development will feature: 500,000 square feet of indoor space; approximately 20,000 square feet of outdoor signage, including Canada's largest high-definition video display measuring 30 by 52 feet; a 24 screen AMC cinema complex; Future Shop Flagship Store; and an exciting mix of fashion and impulse tendencies. Restaurants include Jack Astor's, Woo's Restaurant and Lounge and Milestones.

Developer:
PenEquity Realty Corporation

Architect:
Baldwin and Franklin Architects

Status:
Opened Spring of 2008

Website:
www.penequity.com or www.torontolifesquare.com

Ryerson Faculty of Business Building, Dundas Street West (at Bay Street)

Function:
The development of the southeast corner of Dundas and Bay St will expand Ryerson’s footprint in the downtown core. It will give the university a significant presence among Canada’s business community on Bay St and will be a place to connect with the Downtown Yonge retail community. The business building will house the School of Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Technology Management and Retail Management.

Features:
600,000 square foot project, including 200,000 sq ft of new retail space. Retail space is to be on the ground floor and lower level. Parking is to be on the second through fourth floors. Ryerson University is to occupy the fifth through ninth floors.

Developer:
Ryerson University and Cadillac Fairview

Architects:
Zeidler Partnership Architects (ZPA) and Queen’s Quay Architects International (Q2)

Status:
Complete.

Website:
www.ryerson.ca/business

Best Buy, 65 Dundas Street West (Toronto Eaton Centre)

Function:
Helping to improve people’s live by making technology and entertainment products fun and easy to use.

History:
Best Buy began in 1966, when founder Richard Schulze opened the first Sound of Music store, and audio components systems retailer, in Minnesota. It quickly expanded to include video products and appliances. In 1989, Best Buy became a superstore where all inventory was placed on the sales floor and featured on-commissioned product specialists.

Features:
35,000 square feet of retail space.

Developer:
Ryerson University and Cadillac Fairview

Architect:
Zeidler Partnership Architects (ZPA) & Queen’s Quay Architects International (Q2)

Status:
Open.

Website:
www.bestbuy.ca

Canadian Tire, 65 Dundas Street West (Toronto Eaton Centre)

Function:
To help serve customers’ automotive, sports & leisure and home product needs.

History:
In 1934, Canadian Tire opened its first official associate store in Hamilton, Ontario. This sparked the development of store openings across the country. Today there are over 430 Associate stores nationwide.

Features:
80,000 square feet of retail space.

Developer:
Ryerson University and Cadillac Fairview

Architect:
Zeidler Partnership Architects (ZPA) & Queen’s Quay Architects International (Q2)

Status:
Open.

Website:
www.canadiantire.ca

Pantages Tower, 200 Victoria Street (at Shuter Street)

Function:
Rising 45 floors between old Massey Hall and the refurbished Canon Theatre in the downtown core, Pantages tower is a 45-storey mixed-use building integrating a 494-unit condominium residence with an exclusive 247-room hotel and a 386-car parking garage. It is in close proximity to entertainment and retail centres and is the tallest building in the area.

History:
Pantages Tower and Opus at Pantages are named after a famous theatre in the district called the Pantages Theatre (which was renamed the Canon Theatre in July 2001). The name ‘Pantages’ comes from the Pericles Alexander Pantages who was a sailor on a Greek merchant ship who left the sea in search of Yukon gold during the great 1897 gold rush. Although he found no gold, he became part owner of a saloon that staged vaudeville and burlesque shows. From this beginning, he built an entertainment empire that would eventually include a Hollywood film studio, a powerful vaudeville booking agency and control of more than 120 theatres – most of which were known as “The Pantages.”

Features:
This $100 million development features a two-level lobby crafted in wood, slate and limestone flooring, and tufted leather walls. Pantages tower is integrated with Opus (see below) by a podium-level outdoor amenity space and by the Victoria Street Façade.

Developer:
Dundee Realty and Intracorp

Architect:
Core Architects Inc.

Status:
Complete

Website:
http://www.dundeedevelopment.com
http://www.corearchitects.com/site/site.htm

Opus Residential Condominiums. 242 Victoria Street (at Shuter Street)

Function:
Opus is a 151-unit condominium glass tower that actively engages in the street activity at one of the city’s most vibrant intersections, while dramatically complimenting the downtown skyline 22 storey’s above.

History:
See ‘Pantages Tower’ above for details.

Features:
This elegant $35 million tower features glass window walls and precast concrete cladding. The floor to ceiling windows makes the building both architecturally appealing and functional.

Developer:
Dundee Realty and Intracorp

Architect:
Core Architects Inc.

Status:
Complete

Website:
www.intracorp.ca/main8f.htm
corearchitects.com/site/site.htm

Toronto Eaton Centre Renovations, 220 Yonge Street (at Dundas Street West)

Function:
Redesign of the Eaton Centre entrance of the southwest corner of Yonge and Dundas streets to accommodate a Hennes & Mauritz (H & M) fashion store and an 18 storey media tower.

History:
The Eaton Centre is one of the largest indoor shopping malls in the world, consisting of more than 300 shops, restaurants and services on 5 levels. It was opened in phases starting in 1977 and is the leading tourist destination for both Canadian and overseas visitors. Mall owner, Cadillac Fairview, has planned for more than three years to erect a 3 or 4 storey addition to the mail entrance of the Eaton Centre.

Features:
30,000 square feet, Hennes & Mauritz (H & M) store at the Eaton Centre is the company’s flagship store in Canada. The 18 storey media tower features the country’s largest TriVision panels, an ensemble of 50 choreographed scrollers and 1,200 square food LED video screen.

Developer:
Cadillac Fairview

Status:
Complete

Websites:
www.torontoeatoncentre.com
www.obn.ca/mediatower.html
www.hm.com

G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education – Heaslip House, 297 Victoria Street (at Gould Street)

Function:
Ryerson’s Continuing Education Division occupies a renovated Art Deco building.  Renovations included adding floors and an extension onto the back of the building.

History:
Originally the building was called O’Keefe House and was built in 1938-39 for legendary business tycoon E.P. Taylor as the head office for Canadian Breweries Limited.

Features:
This building was designed by Alfred H. Chapman and includes unique architectural elements such as elaborate carvings by Grances Loring and sandstone cladding on the south and east facades.  Chapman also designed other buildings in the Downtown Yonge area, including the Toronto Hydro building at 14 Carlton St and the building now housing The GAP at 302 Yonge St at Dundas St, formerly a bank.

Developer:
Ryerson University

Architects:
Rounthwaite, Dick & Hadley (RDH) with Lett/Smith Architects

Status:
Complete

Website:
www.ryerson.ca/ce

Citytv and OMNI Television - 35 Dundas Street East (at Victoria)

Function:
Rogers Communications has entered into a binding agreement with PenEquity Management Corp. to acquire the property currently known as The Olympic Torch building.  This will become the new home to Citytv and OMNI Television and allow for more audience interactions with the television stations.

Feature:
Over 43,000 square feet of space redesigned to suit the needs of a television station.

Status:
Opening scheduled for approximately January to March, 2009.

The Residences of College Park, 717 Bay Street

Function:
Two sleek and striking residential towers – 45 and 39 storey’s respectively. 860,000-square-feet of built space. 1,071 units share an 18,000-square-foot recreation centre, as well as a connection to the adjacent College Park retail/office/apartment complex and subway station.

History:
The Residences of College Park take their name from the adjacent retail complex which was built in the 1930’s. College Park was originally Eaton’s upscale College Street store, but closed when the Eaton Centre opened at Yonge and Dundas streets in 1977.

Features:
The Art Deco inspired steel and glass towers will be a blend of 21st century scale and form with historic references to reflect the design in the adjacent 1930’s-era College Park retail block. These include minimalist detailing in the interior lobbies, recreation centre and all public spaces will include marble floors and brushed steel door fixtures. Tenants have access to 129,552 sq. ft. of retail space on the first two floors. In addition, there is a scenic backdrop of a delightful 3-acre park that transforms into a skating rink in water.

Developer:
Canderel Stoneridge

Architect:
Graziani and Corazza

Status:
Condos are on the market with a completion date of 2007.

Website:
www.canderelstoneridge.com/collegepark/design.html

The Met Condominium Residences, 21 Carlton Street (at Yonge Street)

Function:
Proposed mixed use development consisting of two towers of 43 stories and 33 stories in height fronting Carlton Street. A six storey building containing townhouse lofts are to front Granby St. A total of 742 residential units are proposed with a small amount of retail space on Carlton St.

History:
The property is currently being used as a parking lot.

Developer:
Edilcan

Architect:
Page & Steele Architects

Status:
Pre-construction sales of the condominium are underway.

Website:
www.themet.ca

Murano Condominium Residences, 825 Bay Street (at Grosvenor Street)

Function:
Proposed mixed use development consisting of two towers. Constructed on top of a two-storey podium. The north tower would be 34 stories and the south tower 41 stories. 642 residential units are proposed. The two storey podium will contain less than 10,000 sq. ft. of retail floor area. 397 parking spaces are proposed.

History:
The property is currently the site of Addison on Bay Used Cars.

Developer:
H & R Developments and Lanterra Developments.

Architect:
Architects Alliance

Status:
Sales of condominium are underway.

Website:
www.muranocondominiums.com

Ryerson University

Function:
The old Sam the Record Man and Future Shop properties have been purchased by Ryerson University and will be developed into a library expansion, student centre and the lower level will be rented out as retail space.

Developer:
TBD

Architect:
TBD

Status:
TBD

Aura, North West corner of Yonge and Gerrard

Function:
This stately address will feature a retail podium and luxury residences.  Tower Suites from floors 5 to 53 and Executive Suites from floors 57 to 71.

History:
This property is currently being used as a parking lot.

Features:
75 stories of residential and retail space.  180,000 square feet of prime retail shopping, as well as a shopping mall just below.  A landscaped rooftop.  A two-storey, glass enclosed public gallery filled with light.  Withing this fifteen hundred square foot space, art and sculpture are set against a dazzling view of the adjacent 3 acre park, to one side, and a water sculpture rises from the floor to herald your arrival. 

Developer:
Canderel Stoneridge

Architects:
Berardo Graziani and Corazza Architects

Status:
TBD

Website:
www.collegeparkcondos.com

Real Canadian Superstore at Maple Leaf Gardens, 60 Carlton Street

Function:
There aren’t many building in this world where the Beatles played two shows and Muhammed Ali defended his title. Maple Leaf Gardens is one of them. Situated on the northwest corner of Carlton and Church Streets, this former home of the Toronto Maple Leafs has the potential to help revitalize the area and compliment neighbouring commercial and residential communities. Loblaws plans to restore the building and incorporate a grocery store.

History:
The historic Maple Leaf Gardens opened its doors on November 12th, 1931 with a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Black Hawks. Built during the depths of the Great Depression, Maple Leaf Gardens was completed in less than six months at a cost of $1.5 million. As well as being home to the Toronto Maple Leafs, it has also been the arena for a variety of events and public gatherings including the protest rallies of the Depression, skating carnivals, the opera, concerts, the circus and numerous sports events.

Features:
The buff brick structure with stone trim successfully combines both Art Moderne and Art Deco styles, giving scale and interest to the rectangular form of the building. Important features of the exterior include varied form on the elevations, the great dome with crowning lantern, fenestration arrangement and metal sash. Simple masonry brickwork patterns with corbelled courses at the corners, around the window are also important.

Architect:
The building was designed by Ross and Macdonald Architects, and Jack Ryrie and Mackenzie Waters Associates.

Status:
In June 2004 City Council approved a proposal under the Ontario Heritage Act that will allow the owners of Maple Leaf Gardens to alter the building for a planned Loblaws grocery store. The building’s exterior and its interior roof structure will be protected under the terms of a heritage easement agreement. Interior clean up will be begin this the summer of 2007 and construction is estimated to last 22 months.

Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 38 Shuter Street

Function:
Bringing together research, education and clinical care in a novel way to improve health and patient outcomes by generating and disseminating new medical knowledge.

Features:
A 335,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, the Knowledge Institute will be comprised of two nine-storey centres: The Keenan Research Centre which will bring research teams together in one common innovative facility that promotes collaboration in critical care, inner city health, global health, and knowledge translation; The La Ka Shing International Centre in Health Care Education which will house St. Michael’s Hospital’s educational programs including The Centre for Faculty Development, The Patient Simulation Centre and The Fitzgerald Academy. There will be 153 parking spaces, 7 elevators, 24 classrooms, 125 offices, more than 750 full-time staff and over 2,000 students each year.

Developer:
TBD

Architect:
Jack Diamond of Diamond Schmitt

Status:
Completion is scheduled for 2009.

Website:
www.stmichaelshospital.com/knowledgeinstitute/index.php