Future Canadian Skylines

[Gresto]

We need Traynor back to do a good new Future Toronto rendering. It has been a couple of years since he was spotted here. I would do it myself, but I don't have the enthusiasm or time.

[Chadillaccc]

Another Calgary future beauty be CtrlAltDel

[RyLucky]

AMAZING! And it doesn't even show East Village and the Beltline. Is that 3EC still in there?

[Chadillaccc]

Yep. Bentall just bought 3EC, work resumed on the site yesterday Another tower over 150 meters for Calgary At this rate, we will be at 23 towers over 150 meters by 2020.

[Ramako]

This is a rendering I made of what Toronto will look like in 2020. All the projects shown are already under construction or are approved and have already reached their sales thresholds (except for Residences off 488 University Avenue which is approved but has only just started sales). They include One Bloor, Casa II, U Condos, X2 and Five Condos (which have already topped out), Wellesley on the Park, YC Condos, Massey Tower and Ten York.

Projects that I have left out because they wouldn't make a big impact from this angle (or because I was lazy) include Plaza Harbour Residences, 88 Scott, 1 Yorkville, Casa III, Yonge+Rich, Bay Adelaide East, INDX, EY Tower, Karma, Pace, the Britt and a bunch of stuff in the Entertainment District.



The original photo by Jack Landau


Projects that might possibly be built by 2020 which would impact this angle, but which I didn't render, include 45 Bay, 156 Front, Union Centre, 50 Bloor West (aka Holt Renfrew Tower), 37 Yorkville, TeaHouse Condos and CityPlace Signature Towers.

[BretttheRiderFan]

^ That seriously reminds me of a side view of Manhattan.

Obviously not with the same thickness, but wow. Just wow. Bravo Toronto.

[BretttheRiderFan]

I just LOVE this thread so much. Seriously, we have AMAZING cities in this country.

Is there any country out there that, pound for pound, has more amazing skylines than us? Australia maybe?

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

Is there any country out there that, pound for pound, has more amazing skylines than us? Australia maybe?

Pound for pound, Australia was considerably ahead of us the last 20 years. Our latest building boom has pulled us even despite still only having 4 big skyline cities to their 5. We can thank the mega boom in Toronto for that; it's now as big as Sydney and Melbourne put together.

Going forward, we might even pull ahead of Australia pound for pound as Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary come on strong. Edmonton looks set to make it an even 5.

That said, Australia and Canada are tops. The UAE is arguably in that group as well, but Dubai and Abu Dhabi need more time to come together imo. One bit of data that jumped out at me last year was that Canada had roughly as many 100m+ buildings as the entire European Union. Add U/C and Proposed and we still keep pace. That puts things into context.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Pound for pound, Australia was considerably ahead of us the last 20 years. Our latest building boom has pulled us even despite still only having 4 big skyline cities to their 5. We can thank the mega boom in Toronto for that; it's now as big as Sydney and Melbourne put together.

Going forward, we might even pull ahead of Australia pound for pound as Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary come on strong. Edmonton looks set to make it an even 5.

That said, Australia and Canada are tops. The UAE is arguably in that group as well, but Dubai and Abu Dhabi need more time to come together imo. One bit of data that jumped out at me last year was that Canada had roughly as many 100m+ buildings as the entire European Union. Add U/C and Proposed and we still keep pace. That puts things into context.

Not to mention that our tallest is actually taller than the EU tallest! Finding that out blew my mind.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Ramako

Projects that might possibly be built by 2020 which would impact this angle, but which I didn't render, include 45 Bay, 156 Front, Union Centre, 50 Bloor West (aka Holt Renfrew Tower), 37 Yorkville, TeaHouse Condos and CityPlace Signature Towers.

50 Bloor may have to be phased for Holt Renfrew but, I can see Morguard breaking ground in 2015. Their rental project in Forest Hill has leased exceedingly well.

[travis3000]

Great Calgary and Toronto shot. So much excitement going on in both cities.

For the TO shot, you also forgot the Mirvish towers which are approved, however they have not gone into sales yet. Also, 2020 might be a stretch as the project doesn't even have a reputable developer to build it. I would say 2022-2023 for completion.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by travis3000

For the TO shot, you also forgot the Mirvish towers which are approved, however they have not gone into sales yet. Also, 2020 might be a stretch as the project doesn't even have a reputable developer to build it. I would say 2022-2023 for completion.

I didn't forget Mirvish+Gehry. I left it out intentionally. Everyone with knowledge in the industry seems to think that it's very unlikely that the project will ever happen. I wanted this rendering to reflect projects that would almost certainly be built by 2020. And anyway, they wouldn't have a big impact from that angle in terms of creating a new peak.

[travis3000]

Originally Posted by Ramako

I didn't forget Mirvish+Gehry. I left it out intentionally. Everyone with knowledge in the industry seems to think that it's very unlikely that the project will ever happen. I wanted this rendering to reflect projects that would almost certainly be built by 2020. And anyway, they wouldn't have a big impact from that angle in terms of creating a new peak.

Hmm so the city of Toronto created an entire panel, the media did dozens of interviews and reports for a project that is 100% in stone never going to have a chance of happening? Such a shame.

[WhipperSnapper]

The property is rezoned. There is no time frame attached to zoning. Mirvish/Gehry's likely inability to get these towers realized doesn't mean the process was all for naught.

Gehry's an attention whore. Mirvish's mentor, Stinson, was an even bigger one. The media's attention is of little relevance.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by travis3000

Hmm so the city of Toronto created an entire panel, the media did dozens of interviews and reports for a project that is 100% in stone never going to have a chance of happening? Such a shame.

Since when does "very unlikely" mean "100% in stone never going to have a chance of happening"? Please don't put words in my mouth.

Anyway, setting up a panel and doing some interviews is hardly a significant commitment of time and resources from the city. That they've done that much probably speaks more to the respect people have for David Mirvish and Frank Gehry, rather than to the actual viability of the project. After all, it's not planning staff's business to judge a project based on the developer's pro forma. I've yet to see any industry insiders describe this project as anything more than a long shot. Don't get me wrong; I'd love for it to proceed, but at this very early stage I don't think it's worth getting excited about it.

[Wooster]

Calgary's resident future skyline master CtrlAltDel featured:

http://globalnews.ca/news/1643155/ca...tower-in-2024/

Well done!

[caltrane74]

Maybe when some "partnership" or "joint-venture" is announced we can get excited.

Possibly, flipped to a major developer?

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Maybe when some "partnership" or "joint-venture" is announced we can get excited.

Possibly, flipped to a major developer?

That's what I'm guessing. The land has been rezoned, so something tall will definitely get built here eventually, but I suspect that Mirvish will, at best, become a junior partner and that Gehry might get the boot in favour of a somewhat more economical architect.

[WhipperSnapper]

I'm becoming more convinced Mirvish actually wants to build it instead of just upzoning the site and cashing out. If so, count on the proposal languishing for years.

[Gresto]

Good job on the render, Ramako. Pity to hear about Mirvish/Gehry. I would have bet on that one going ahead, and with little delay. Given the buzz, I believe they would sell out virtually overnight. But I don't have an inside track to, and knowledge of, the industry like some of you.