Toronto Maple Leaf Square | 185.92m | 54s | Lanterra | KPMB

Took so many shoots this past weekend of this project and try to post the best ones. A few new angle shoots.

Putting in a plus 15 bridge under the Gardiner is fine if you are in an building that connects to it or the public is aware of it as it will make it easier to get across that blight.

I spent 5 years in Calgary that had +15 bridge system in place of the PHAT and was not fond of it. It made it harder to get to where you wanted to go and took the life off the street. Even in the winter, I would use the street.

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September 8 Pictures

As noted earlier, much of the square area in front of the ACC is now open, affording new views from the east side of the complex. Here are some pictures from this evening around 5 pm, unfortunately not the best time of day given where the sun is located.

1
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3902164772/

2.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3902165262/

3.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3901385933/

4.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3902165766/

5.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3901386893/

6.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3901387333/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3902166586/

8.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3902166786/

9.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3902165500/

10.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3901387107/
 
Hmm... Plants and Trees seem to have averted them... I know they want this to be a public plaza, but Trees would make this modern, concrete/steal/glass square seem alot more warm. as it is now I don't think I'd want to spend very much time in this public space.
 
^ In fairness, Dane, it's a concourse, not a public square (despite the name). It's for walking through, not hanging out. That's going to be a fun canyon as crowds stream through it (and, come to think of it, probably a very loud canyon when the games lets out).

Besides, imagine the poor scraggly Charlie Brown trees that would grow in there.
 
Well it isn't really a space about drawing in people for long periods of time-- more or less it's a transitional space for people coming to work or sports games or shopping-- and then leaving again.

I think trees in some rectangular rusty metal planters that are moveable would be nice. They would be casual (suitable for this space) and easily moveable depending on how the space is to be used at different times.
 
^ and a place for meeting. Like "Let's meet infront of the ACC" or telus or MLS. I notice in Tokyo, these squares usually have a lot of people hanging out waiting for their friends to go out after wards like drinking, eating or karaoke. For drinking, there's a sports bar at MLS. Also there's pub restaurant at infinity. Maybe a karaoke place would be nice to have around as well. And a few more restaurants either under Union station or at Ice. Also some outdoor cafes and stuff.
 
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For sure.

I definitely see this type of space being repeated in future developments, although the strange street/circle that Bremner is and the way these parcels of land were shaped (yes, that includes the Gardiner) means that all signs pointed to this being an interesting space. It was done very well, though, and exceeded my expectations. I do hope, however, that more and more of Toronto will start to have these public spaces, and that so much focus will be put on the pedestrian even in new areas with large, modernist complexes.

My only concern is that without perfect timing of development (MLS, Telus, etc., all at once), special sites (Bremner Circle, perfect location of parking lots to conveniently develop, Gardiner), and the stars aligned, this type of project would be rare. It would be nice to have some more of this but spaces that are an area to settle down and relax at cafes and meet and use for events.

But this first of such success stories, Union Square, is really more of a pass-through, meet-up-and-get-going kind of transitional space. Which I think is really exciting and will have fascinating streetlife happening. The entrance to Union, the ACC, the huge sidewalks around Telus. It's going to be great.
 
overall, id say mls, despite not being a square, is a success. it's beautified the area, if only slightly, and created new infrastructure. sure, benches and trees would be nice, but i for one cannot wait until york has been completely transformed. certainly, many trees will be added on that street. also, once 18 york and the ice condos are finished, a new and impressive canyon will emerge. these developments along with mls will make getting to the lake much more pleasant.
 
More evening screen testing

More tesing of the giant TV screen this evening! Also the interior of the Air Canada Centre expansion looks done and is clearly visible through the windows at night.

1: Leafs Logo, Close
(I'll post just this first one at full resolution to show the quality of the screen.)

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907788477/

2: Raptors Logo, Close
(Raptors logo wasn't was photogenic, the brightness and contrast kept overpowering my poor little camera.)
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3908568416/

3. Leafs logo, far.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907789923/

4. Raptors logo, far.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3908568620/

5. Leafs logo and skyline
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907789087/

6. Raptors logo and skyline
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907789241/

7. Lobby 1
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3908569008/

8. Lobby 2
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907789647/

9. Lobby 3
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907789811/

10. Lobby 4
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/41002894@N07/3907788745/
 
I wasn't too sure about the screen at first, but the quality of the screen looks really good!
 
The ground level looks as though it has some promise, though I can't formulate an opinion based on these pictures, as good as they are.

I like the bases generally speaking, but the towers are even less impressive than I thought they'd be.
 
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