Bibi L
Active Member
I made this thread for 25 The Esplanade to discuss or post pics of it.
In these posts, I'll share information and history about this building.
First part, we'll be discussing construction! We always look at new developments in this city under construction, but we never look at older buildings when they were under construction.
Let's start off with information about it.
It was designed by Matsui Baer Vanstone Freeman, and developed by Avro Group. The first records I could find date back to 1986, with construction for the complex starting the same year. It was built alongside 45 The Esplanade, which is Novotel Toronto Centre. Both buildings were developed by the same company. Novotel Toronto Centre is a 9-story hotel. Construction was finished in 1987. 25 The Esplanade topped out in 1988, with residents moving in 1989. This tower is pretty unique, as it is shaped as a flatiron. It's shaped that way because the land used to be much more triangular than it is now. Some tracks south of it have since been removed, which created more land, and a new development, Backstage, was built. These new developments have obscured the "flatiron" view.
The tower stands at 33 storeys, 108 metres in height. The first floor features 3 retail spaces. The second floor has office space. Floors 3-32 are residential floors. Floor 33 has amenities for all residents. It features a party room right at the "nose" of the building (west side). It also has a billiard room next to it, facing north. An entertainment room connected to the party room facing south, and a kitchen. On the east side of the building, (backside) there is a spacious gym. It also features a whirlpool and change rooms equipped with a sauna. On the 33rd, 32nd, and 31st floors, both north and south have rooftop terraces. 6 total. There is also a SkyPark on the 6th floor on the east side. 7 total. The residential portion of 25 The Esplanade is owned by MTCC #850. The commercial portion, first floor, second floor (retail, office) and even the entire 45 The Esplanade hotel building plus the entire parking lot for all buildings, were owned by Avro Group, the developer. However, a few years ago, it was bought by Silver Hotel Group, which still holds true to this day. The parking lot is different from most condos in Toronto. It has 3 different levels, which all parking is shared between 25/35/45. 35 and 45 get the P1 parking level, which is public, anyone can park. Residential (25 The Esplanade) has P2 and P3. That portion of the garage is gated. They have a contract with the parking owner, which is not MTCC #850. It's all owned by Silver Hotel Group and was operated by Impark, which now TargetPark operates.
Fun fact: The north facing stairwell in 25 The Esplanade has windows!
Here are some pictures of it under construction (sources are at the bottom)
Before we start with construction, this is the model of how the complex would have looked like. From this image, we can see some changes between the proposal and the final product. We can see the east facade with the concrete, would have had some windows. Currently, there are no windows on the concrete facade on the east. We also see there was a big arch on the entrance of 25 The Esplanade, reading its address. There also was a bridge connecting it with Meridian Hall. At the time, O'Keefe Centre. The windows on the 4th floor of 25 would have had arches. There would have been an arch connecting 25 with 45. The entrance for vehicles at 45 would be different. The entrance of the hotel would also be different.
While the final design of the complex isn't too different, there were some changes made before construction, as we can see in the image.
Now, with actual construction pictures.
This is before any development had started. This is how the intersection looked like.
Sometime between 1980 and 1982. This is when 55 The Esplanade and the Green P garage were under construction. This project is not connected to 25 or 45.
Finally, 25 The Esplanade! Two cranes for this building, which stretches 80 meters east-west. Circa 1987.
Around 1988/1987. Almost topped out.
It's finished in this picture. We'll go over 45 The Esplanade soon.
Before we do that, let's look at it at a different angle.
45 The Esplanade under construction. Keep in mind this finished before 25 The Esplanade.
Different angle.
More different angles.
This is before they extended the Green P garage. Did you know it originally was only built until Church St and did not stretch all the way to Market St? That's why the architecture of the garage differs. With the older part not having the arches like the extension has.
Looks nice.
Going back to 25 The Esplanade, in this picture, we can see it under construction topped out, but still under construction. This is before Brookfield Place, back then, BCE Place. The skyline was pretty empty back then...
Compare the above image with this one, taken 1991. We can still see Bay Wellington tower under construction. TD Canada Trust Tower was brand new.
Going back to 45 The Esplanade, in this picture, it's finished! Ever since it opened, it's always been Novotel.
I will continue, as there is a 15 attachment limit. This is only part one!
(Sources: City of Toronto Archives, TPL Digital Archive [Toronto Star Archives])
In these posts, I'll share information and history about this building.
First part, we'll be discussing construction! We always look at new developments in this city under construction, but we never look at older buildings when they were under construction.
Let's start off with information about it.
It was designed by Matsui Baer Vanstone Freeman, and developed by Avro Group. The first records I could find date back to 1986, with construction for the complex starting the same year. It was built alongside 45 The Esplanade, which is Novotel Toronto Centre. Both buildings were developed by the same company. Novotel Toronto Centre is a 9-story hotel. Construction was finished in 1987. 25 The Esplanade topped out in 1988, with residents moving in 1989. This tower is pretty unique, as it is shaped as a flatiron. It's shaped that way because the land used to be much more triangular than it is now. Some tracks south of it have since been removed, which created more land, and a new development, Backstage, was built. These new developments have obscured the "flatiron" view.
The tower stands at 33 storeys, 108 metres in height. The first floor features 3 retail spaces. The second floor has office space. Floors 3-32 are residential floors. Floor 33 has amenities for all residents. It features a party room right at the "nose" of the building (west side). It also has a billiard room next to it, facing north. An entertainment room connected to the party room facing south, and a kitchen. On the east side of the building, (backside) there is a spacious gym. It also features a whirlpool and change rooms equipped with a sauna. On the 33rd, 32nd, and 31st floors, both north and south have rooftop terraces. 6 total. There is also a SkyPark on the 6th floor on the east side. 7 total. The residential portion of 25 The Esplanade is owned by MTCC #850. The commercial portion, first floor, second floor (retail, office) and even the entire 45 The Esplanade hotel building plus the entire parking lot for all buildings, were owned by Avro Group, the developer. However, a few years ago, it was bought by Silver Hotel Group, which still holds true to this day. The parking lot is different from most condos in Toronto. It has 3 different levels, which all parking is shared between 25/35/45. 35 and 45 get the P1 parking level, which is public, anyone can park. Residential (25 The Esplanade) has P2 and P3. That portion of the garage is gated. They have a contract with the parking owner, which is not MTCC #850. It's all owned by Silver Hotel Group and was operated by Impark, which now TargetPark operates.
Fun fact: The north facing stairwell in 25 The Esplanade has windows!
Here are some pictures of it under construction (sources are at the bottom)
Before we start with construction, this is the model of how the complex would have looked like. From this image, we can see some changes between the proposal and the final product. We can see the east facade with the concrete, would have had some windows. Currently, there are no windows on the concrete facade on the east. We also see there was a big arch on the entrance of 25 The Esplanade, reading its address. There also was a bridge connecting it with Meridian Hall. At the time, O'Keefe Centre. The windows on the 4th floor of 25 would have had arches. There would have been an arch connecting 25 with 45. The entrance for vehicles at 45 would be different. The entrance of the hotel would also be different.
While the final design of the complex isn't too different, there were some changes made before construction, as we can see in the image.
Now, with actual construction pictures.
This is before any development had started. This is how the intersection looked like.
Sometime between 1980 and 1982. This is when 55 The Esplanade and the Green P garage were under construction. This project is not connected to 25 or 45.
Finally, 25 The Esplanade! Two cranes for this building, which stretches 80 meters east-west. Circa 1987.
Around 1988/1987. Almost topped out.
It's finished in this picture. We'll go over 45 The Esplanade soon.
Before we do that, let's look at it at a different angle.
45 The Esplanade under construction. Keep in mind this finished before 25 The Esplanade.
Different angle.
More different angles.
This is before they extended the Green P garage. Did you know it originally was only built until Church St and did not stretch all the way to Market St? That's why the architecture of the garage differs. With the older part not having the arches like the extension has.
Looks nice.
Going back to 25 The Esplanade, in this picture, we can see it under construction topped out, but still under construction. This is before Brookfield Place, back then, BCE Place. The skyline was pretty empty back then...
Compare the above image with this one, taken 1991. We can still see Bay Wellington tower under construction. TD Canada Trust Tower was brand new.
Going back to 45 The Esplanade, in this picture, it's finished! Ever since it opened, it's always been Novotel.
I will continue, as there is a 15 attachment limit. This is only part one!
(Sources: City of Toronto Archives, TPL Digital Archive [Toronto Star Archives])
