This week’s Throwback Thursday takes us to Toronto’s Fashion District, comparing a pair of views captured over two and a half years apart of the heritage Art Deco Waterworks Building at Richmond and Brant streets. A view from September, 2017 facing southeast across Richmond at Maud Street, shows the 1932-1937-built, decommissioned City works building being prepped for its new life, with some sections being demolished and others being prepped for restoration and incorporation into the base of a brand new mixed-use development.

Looking southeast across Richmond to the Waterworks Building, September, 2017, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

Returning to the same location in June, 2020 shows the product of roughly 33 months of work for MOD Developments and Woodcliffe Properties’ Waterworks Building Redevelopment. The 13-storey, Diamond Schmitt Architects-designed complex, with heritage elements overseen by ERA Architects, is now closing in on its final 47.55-metre height as cladding installation fast encloses the exterior in a mix of window wall cladding with large pane windows and louvres framed in black aluminum mullions, surrounded in a staggered frame of dark porcelain tiles, with a brick bond pattern. Once complete, the building will add 299 condominium units above the restored and repurposed heritage building, which will include retail, a food hall, and a YMCA.

Looking southeast across Richmond to the Waterworks Building, June, 2020, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto. In the meantime, you can submit your own Throwback Thursday comparisons in our dedicated Forum thread for your chance to be featured in next week's edition.

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Related Companies:  Bluescape Construction Management, Cecconi Simone, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Janet Rosenberg & Studio, JORG - Renderings & Interactive, Kramer Design Associates Limited, L.A. Inc., LiveRoof Ontario Inc, Norris Fire Consulting Inc, Peter McCann Architectural Models Inc., Quest Window Systems, Urban Strategies Inc.