Irishmonk
Senior Member
10 Dundas East--though a demolition may be more in order.
The Toronto Star Building, both parts.
HBC at Yonge and Bloor would be an important project because of its uninspiring all concrete-clad podium at such a prominent intersection. The tower is bland too. Even if you like Brutalism, you may find that the concrete cladding seems generic. The recent makeover of Bloor makes the "bunker" stand out more with its subpar window-less design.
I can't say the same for the distinctive 2 Bloor West. It's among the more memorable towers in Toronto, with its rigid concrete 'ribs' and pronounced mechanical sections (nicely integrated into the architecture, of course), interspersed with an unusual grid of windows.
I agree 2 Bloor W looks like it could use some TLC (and perhaps a reclad), but I'd hope the colour/design survives. When I was a kid it was one of my favourite towers because it kind of reminded me of a calculator (the windows look sort of like buttons), and there's something about the colours that just screams 70s (in a good, representative manner).
The biggest change I'd really make on it would be a reversion to the old CIBC logo up top. The new one clashes with the roof line, but the old one fit in so well it was as if they designed the roof to match the logo
Any/all of the 80s/90s buildings that went with white anodized aluminium panels in their cladding (I'm thinking specifically the former Holiday Inn on King, the Madison Centre in North York, and The 250/One Dundas West at the Eaton Centre). It's not the architecture I take issue with but rather the execution. I find those panels look awful after a few years of exposure to the elements, and I'd like to see them replaced with white glazing which would hold up much better.
Holiday Inn, I can understand--but the others, and *especially* the Eaton Centre towers (again, that "Zeidler heritage" thing), would be better cleaned/burnished than reclad. (Another in that cladding genre: Citi at 123 Front.)
The Strathcona Hotel!
The Toronto Star Building, both parts.
I think the biggest blight on the cityscape right now are the condos and apartments put up in the 80s and early 90s - the ones with the beige/light brown fake brick panels (ie: the three harbour point condos south of the CN tower). Probably too expensive for condos to re-clad though.