Located at one of Toronto’s most prominent intersections and at the junction of two subway lines, One Bloor East is a landmark mixed use residential building of 75 storeys. The goal of the design is to increase density while contributing to the public realm, therefore, the six storey podium steps back, preserving the existing street scale and allowing the tower to be present at the intersection without dominating. Widened sidewalks give access to retail, and a mid-block public pathway leads to both the subway station and an underground shopping concourse.
The building is defined by undulating forms. The flowing lines of the façade begin at the podium terraces and continue up the tower to the sloped rooftop, dramatically contrasting with the surrounding Modernist high rises and adding a sculptural element to the skyline. The rectangular form of the tower allows for effective suite layouts and serves as a backdrop for the façade’s curves, created by frit glass balconies. The balconies pinwheel around the tower, increasing in size for the larger corner units to maximize views and light. High performance curtain wall (instead of window wall) and heavily landscaped roofs contribute to the building’s energy efficiency. However, the most significant aspect of One Bloor East’s sustainability is the very nature of its urban character—the embodied efficiency of concentrating 700 units over a one acre site, in close proximity to public transit and compact civic services.
