Toronto The Residences of 488 University Avenue | 206.95m | 55s | Amexon | Core Architects

[ShonTron]

Maybe we will start seeing more of this type of thing. As low hanging fruit becomes scarcer developers will start turning to options like this. It's not even the first building on this street that got additional floors added. Didn't one of those hospitals add some floors later on?

The Shell Oil Tower, built in 1958, had seven additional floors added in 1966. It's not too hard to spot the additional floors, but they match architecturally.

The Hospital For Sick Children's University Avenue wing had two floors added around the same time the Elm Wing was built in the 1970s. Mount Sinai Hospital had an addition built on top of the original structure, but on the Murray Street side. And of course, there's the 1990s Princess Margaret Hospital which used the facade of old Ontario Hydro buildings for a taller construction as well.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Don't forget 130 Bloor West:

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/thread...west-89m-21s-kingsett-capital-quadrangle.590/

Ironically, a similar discussion in said thread as well.

AoD

 

[Edward Skira]

St Michael's Hospital is another.

 

[ShonTron]

There's even more than that, like Tip Top Tailors and Queen's Quay Terminal, but I limited myself to those buildings on University Avenue.

 

[ProjectEnd]

@ShonTron, you forgot the 1980s pomo-ification of 375 University at the corner of University and Armoury:

 

[ProjectEnd]

Even the courthouse across the street had a floor added on:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6526...4!1sM3znZQV9raMm7cLdxAYWtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[adHominem]

Poor 375 University. Trying so, so hard to be a Serious Person but forced to wear a funny hat.

 

[stjames2queenwest]

I love its hat. Adds some colour.

 

[Lenser]

I don't mind it either. I've certainly seen worse melding of the old with the new.

 

[LUVIT!]

I agree..before it looked very Stalingrad 1954.

 

[jje1000]

Maybe we will start seeing more of this type of thing. As low hanging fruit becomes scarcer developers will start turning to options like this. It's not even the first building on this street that got additional floors added. Didn't one of those hospitals add some floors later on?

Things like these are very common in places like New York going back decades, where often times developers choose to reclad and expand existing buildings rather than do a complete demolition.

 

[isaidso]

Things like these are very common in places like New York going back decades, where often times developers choose to reclad and expand existing buildings rather than do a complete demolition.

Yep, it was inevitable that it became prevalent here.

 

[ramr]

From 08-Jan-2017

 

[vini007]

wow.. love the landscape.. looks so lively.. and adds more character to the city.. it's a live..b4 the building was a dead as many still on the avenue..

 

[Light]

Spectacular! Kudos to Canadian engineering prowess! Much better than tearing down a perfectly usable building (and create more landfill) and rebuild from scratch. Increasing density directly above a subway station is also the way more modern cities are trying to integrate mass transit. The fins mirror the MARS building just up the street, whilst the glass generally reflects the Sun Life Centre down the street, so this building kind of "ties" the N and S parts of University Avenue.