TORONTO | 2 Bloor West | ? M / ? FT | 70 FLOORS + 85 FLOORS

[cruzin4u]

Address: 2 Bloor West
Developer: Oxford Properties
Architect: ArchitectsAlliance

This is Oxford's Cumberland Terrace redevelopment plot of land. Additional information;

2 Bloor West
Toronto, Ontario
2016
96,500m²
2 Bloor West will transform the transitional block between the exclusive Village of Yorkville shopping district and the urban intensity of Yonge Street. A seven-storey podium animates Cumberland Street with double-height retail space at grade, and a boutique hotel consistent with Four Seasons and Ritz-Carleton properties in the vicinity. A 70-storey residential tower marks the intersection of Bay and Cumberland, book-ended by an 85-storey residential tower at Yonge and Bloor.
The dynamic identity of 2BW is shaped by the contingencies of its attenuated, L-shaped site and the technical challenges of erecting slender point towers directly over the Bloor subway line. A network of robust diagonal supports extends along the north and south facades of the podium and wraps around each tower. The visible structure expresses the tectonics of the architectural forms, expanding as it extends along the Cumberland façade, contracting as it curls around the base of each tower, and becoming lighter and more ethereal as it rises upward.

Renders courtesy of waterloowarrior and ArchitectsAlliance (http://www.architectsalliance.com/projects/xl/2-bloor-west)

http://www.candidbling.com/2bloorwest_02_process.jpg

http://www.candidbling.com/2bloorwest_03_process.jpg

http://www.candidbling.com/2bloorwest_04_process.jpg

http://www.candidbling.com/2bloorwest_01_process.jpg

[caltrane74]

Could be over 1000 Feet

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/9213364452_889d538f6e.jpg

[DrNest]

Another awesome proposal. Love it.

[Gresto]

I like them, but aren't we supposed to be in a bear market?

[caltrane74]

Considering how bad the economy is, I'm surprised we get any proposals at all.

Getting them built is the tough part though.

[Gresto]

Yes, I hope they aren't just whetting our apetites with proposals that will never see the light of day. However, someone on here wrote that Harbour Plaza is selling like the proverbial hotcakes, so maybe we're seeing a turnaround.

[yaletown_fella]

Not a fan of the podium design. Four Seasons is one aA too many. then again I'm biased towards old money style designs in this part of town. Not a big modern fan.

But I quite like the lattice design and height of the towers is quite exciting . But honestly, I see the podium as a huge wasted opportunity, especially if it's cladded in materials akin the junky slate on Four Seasons (not to mention the cheap looking randomly placed windows)

From a heightest perspective this will be very interesting as its in the same megablock as the 280m 80 Bloor West proposal. If they upped the size of the podium this could very well become one of the densest areas in the world.

[Duck From NY]

Almost looks like there would be a conveyor belt in the podium. Weird design. I like weird.

[koops65]

Finally uploaded drawings for these towers.
Toronto diagram: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=60088583
85 floor tower: http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=39205
70 floor tower: http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=36598

[scalziand]

Quick work making the diagrams, Koops. Looks nice too.

[Design-mind]

Thanks Koops!

I am loving this design! The angular balconies work well with the lattice design.

[koops65]

Thanks guys! :)

[caltrane74]

Some old renders of the project

http://gingert.net/images/toronto-cumberlandtrredevelopment2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2928667527_a38b8a9fd4_o.jpg

[scalziand]

I almost panicked when I saw those renders, then I noticed that they were old designs. The new design is much better.

[DrNest]

Absolutely. Those old renders are so bland compared to the latest release.

[scalziand]

I think the diagrams accidentally got set to 'vision' instead of 'proposed'.

[koops65]

That's not an accident. There has been no formal proposal to the city about this new design... yet. When there is, the status will be changed.

[caltrane74]

True enough, we don't even know if aA won the bid from Oxford.

[scalziand]

Ah, thanks for explaining that koops.

[CC_92]

Any news on this project?

[Dwils01]

That is so disappointing to see a thread that hasn't been active in over 6 months to see that it has a post that might be an update only to find out how pointless it was. If there is updates on a project it will be put up here within the day it's released.

[cruzin4u]

Looks like this project has changed somewhat.

From the DRP (Design Review Panel) - March 18th, 2014.

http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/City%20Planning/Urban%20Design/Files/pdf/DRP/DRP%20Minutes%20March%202014.pdf

2 Bloor Street West
architectsAlliance
Oxford Properties
Pre Site Plan
2 towers – 28 and 50 storeys

Positives
- this proposal benefits from a pre-existing OMB
approval
- the tower is fairly compact, and within the tall
building guidelines
- the architecture is simple and elegant
- it displays a good attempt to encourage northsouth
permeation at ground level
- the 3-storey building on Cumberland is
appreciated

http://i.imgur.com/ha1mqRz.jpg

An application has been filed as well... details:


Application: Zoning Review Status: Not Started

Location: 2 BLOOR ST W
TORONTO ON M4W 3E2

Ward 27: Toronto Centre-Rosedale

Application#: 14 143152 ZPR 00 ZR Accepted Date: Apr 15, 2014

Project: Multiple-Use Building New Building

Description: Proposal to construct a new 54 storey mixed use building with 575 residential units, retail space, office space, 44 residential parking spaces and 614 bicycle spaces.

[Gresto]

So presumably the 70 + 85 floors of the title have been scrapped.

[yaletown_fella]

If it's going to be this mediocre I'd rather they put it on hold until the next boom cycle starts (or sell it to a developer who will work with a better architect)

[cruzin4u]

So presumably the 70 + 85 floors of the title have been scrapped.

Perhaps. It's really hard to figure out what the heck is going on here.

The DRP bewilders me as well. It seems they are completely backwards - if anything, this area needs such intensification...but hey, what do I know? These are just some of their comments regarding all the development proposals in the area;

"Four major residential towers planned for the south end of Yorkville, near Bloor and Bay, are putting the local area on course for a "disturbing" future, the chair of the city's Design Review Panel says. "

"The developments paint "a clear and disturbing picture" for Yorkville and the surrounding area, Gordon Stratford, the review panel chair. It shows a growing cumulative impact that puts this area of the city at serious risk."

"The members of the panel "felt the assembly of projects would not deliver in terms of complexity of experience, aesthetic pleasure, and quality of life," according to their report. "They expressed unanimous concern and caution about whether this was an appropriate direction for the development of the City, suggesting that they would result in an over-crowded and unpleasant environment, the consequences of which should be seriously considered."

"In response, the panel suggested the buildings that have yet to receive approval should be scaled back, reduced in density and lowered in height."

SOURCE: http://www.blogto.com/city/2014/04/is_bay_bloor_in_danger_of_becoming_a_condo_jungle/

[yaletown_fella]

Wow the DRP take contradictory to a whole new level.

Of course, the best way to improve the aesthetics and quality of life is to scale down the height? :koko:

Too much brain power for them to consider requesting high end materials, public art, water feature or somthing other than a height reduction. This city never learns.

[Gresto]

Yes, what an assemblage of idiotic pronouncements. Few intersections in Toronto are more appropriate for tall skyscrapers.

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't know if I agree with the DRP although the Minto project certainly expresses street level density that is far beyond pleasant. Anyways, a water feature is superficial when it comes down to the appropriate height and density of a block or neighbourhood. Dubai happens to be full of water features and well manicured greenery. 2 Bloor is reserved in the typical aA style but, in the same sense, is still a quality project regardless of a person's afinity towards a different design aesthetic. Mediocre it is not.

[yaletown_fella]

I don't know if I agree with the DRP although the Minto project certainly expresses street level density that is far beyond pleasant. Anyways, a water feature is superficial when it comes down to the appropriate height and density of a block or neighbourhood. Dubai happens to be full of water features and well manicured greenery. 2 Bloor is reserved in the typical aA style but, in the same sense, is still a quality project regardless of a person's afinity towards a different design aesthetic. Mediocre it is not.

The attention to detail on the proposal looks beautiful in the rendering but I just cant trust the same architects who churned out the barren concrete and spandrel clad Murano development.

[WhipperSnapper]

Umm, Murano has the least amount of spandrel of any project. I understand you don't like aA's aesthetic but, c'mon, you still have to appreciate the quality of the end product over attempts by other firms working with similar budgets. At the same time, while your affection is with traditional pre war styles, you have to acknowledge 99% of its rivival is pure junk of conflicting elements hodgepodged together for people that have no understanding beyond what they preceive to be Park Avenue exclusivity.

[Zapatan]

What? No!

Whoever was in charge of that decision is worse than Amanda Birdhead who shortened NYC's Tower Verre.

What is up with North America? Supertalls almost always get shortened or cancelled. (With the exception of NY's Steinway tower)

Get it together NA

[isaidso]

If it's going to be this mediocre I'd rather they put it on hold until the next boom cycle starts (or sell it to a developer who will work with a better architect)

Agree. 28 and 50 floors and this design? I'd much rather hold out for something of substance than be stuck with this for the next 60 years.

[DrNest]

^ Totally.

Whilst the design isn't complete bad, it's not amazing, and the lowered heights is a farce for this area.

[caltrane74]

Didn't see this coming at this major intersection....

So many tall towers on this intersection.....

I just don't get it.

[333609543]

Toronto Height Reduction

[TorontoDrew]

I forgot about that proposal. It's been so long since it's been floated around here.

[caltrane74]

Site has been purchased for $360 million

“There is probably something like five or six months left of inventory and that will be absorbed very, very quickly,” Fenton said, noting as an example a $330-million bid he placed for a prime piece of land on the northeast corner of the Yonge and Bloor intersection. “I got outbid by $30-million by an unconditional offer [and] that just tells me the market is, from an acquisition standpoint, very very strong and it is going to affect the end-purchaser’s ability to buy, or have more selection of inventory to buy.

http://www.bnn.ca/News/2015/12/3/Toronto-condo-prices-could-soar-40-predicts-developer.aspx

[Gresto]

You don't spend that much dosh if your plan is for two towers of 28 and 50 storeys.

[caltrane74]

Yeah, I figure whatever gets built it will be at least 200 meters / 660 feet or so.