The design of the building can be described in three fragments: the base, middle and top.
The base of the building or podium varies in height from two to four storeys and occupies the majority of the site. The podium houses retail uses at grade. a mix of residential suites, and rental suites for the 2nd-4th floors. The retail component is scaled back or recessed for a 2 story height to allow for a covered pedestrian walkway for the residents to enter the building lobby as well as for the public to access the retail. This gesture of recessing the base of the building not only provides shelter from the elements but also widens the sidewalk allowing for a more generous space for pedestrians to engage and interact with, while the expansively glazed 2 story lobby frames the public realm.
Access to loading services, as well as underground parking, have been located to the north, off of the laneway, as to not interfere with pedestrian actives and the public realm. The podium will also features a lush outdoor garden space located at the rear of the building and accessed off the second floor for residents that would like to enjoy a quiet outdoor space.
The tower is the middle component of the project and it is speared by the base with an architectural gesture that further recesses the plan inwards. With this, the main amenity space is located on this level and takes advantage of the full roof of the podium as to allow for outdoor amenity uses. The indoor of the 5th floor is also fully dedicated to amenity space, therefore providing resident a mix of passive and active spaces that have the opportunity to spill out to the exterior terrace. A portion of the outdoor amenity is covered by the tower allowing for outdoor uses during inclement weather.
The tower design departs form the rigid square shape of the podium and introduces an angled gesture and sculpting as to maximize views for the residents while providing a unique form that both contrast and compliments the surrounding context. The angled gesture is further amplified in the arrangement of the balconies – which alternate between two distinct angular plans as to further accentuate the geometry of the tower. Finally a mix of frosted and charcoal railing glass move with the geometry of the tower shape and provide a wrapping effect to the building façade.
Finally, the top of the building houses the mechanical equipment that will serve the building. This portion of the building has been integrated into its design, in the form of a metal frame that begins just above the podium area. It continues up the façade to culminate a white box form that envelopes the mechanical area. The intent is to integrate this into the building design instead of having a mass that does not relate to the tower. This result is a complete building form and architectural expression.
