Toronto Living Shangri-La Toronto | 214.57m | 66s | Westbank | James Cheng

3D now that you've mentioned the "C" word, you've jinxed it, some part of this project will get Cheapened. Mark my words!
 
Westbank has another property that they wish to construct in the future in Toronto I am told. Ian Gillespie the principal is building high end in Vancouver. I think that is his desire here.
I am not saying he won't watch the bottom line but he did not cheap out in Vancouver and given that he is trying to establish himself as a "luxury builder" here, I doubt he will cheapen it based on cost alone. That may happen in that people don't like some things he will do but I doubt he will risk his reputation which I understand to be very good in the industry.
 
Today was my first time being down in this area since Canada Day and I was truly overwhelmed by the progress of Shangri-la today, mainly with the glass. Standing and admiring it at this point in construction then walking up University Avenue (one of my favorate walking streets) sure made for a great afternoon, following a terrific movie at Bell Lightbox.
 
Aug. 5th - Prep. for glass installation over atrium almost complete. BB quality..

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This building is simply stunning, already, when viewed from across University, even though not finished yet. The the vertical zig zag tears across the building - a deftly done detail. Pair this with the angles in the atrium and you've got motion. This may be the best work going up in Toronto right now. This building respects and adds to its vicinity beautifully. As I walked down University yesterday I noted that Shangri-La converses with the wavy thing at the s/w corner of King/University, and onward, I still "felt" Shangri-LA while gazing at the glasswork at RTH. Nice contextual addition, in other words. City-building.

It appears to me that as of August 5, 2011, there are 14 floors to go yet. In other words, what you see today is 78% of the total height. This will be a tall building when done.
 
It is a stunning building, and I am grateful for it's presence here. My only additional wish: that the zig-zag also appeared on the west face since that is the most visible side.
 
I still like Vancouver's Shangri-La much more. I thought Toronto's would win me over as it got built, but so far it hasn't. The zig zag side looks great, but as Irishmonk pointed out, the west side is lacking anything that makes it stand out. (Not to say the back of Vancouver's is any better, I just prefer the front side over ours)
 
Irishmonk said:
It is a stunning building, and I am grateful for it's presence here. My only additional wish: that the zig-zag also appeared on the west face since that is the most visible side.
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The "money shot" perspective of the building - which offers a rare head-to-toe view of a tall tower - is the one looking south down University, and it's quite mundane, in an end-on sort of way.
 
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