It's typical in Toronto these days that when a new building rises beside an existing one, the new one will be much taller, and the difference in the scale between the neighbours could be jarring if left unaddressed. To bring some harmony, urban designers like to see one or more elements from the existing building carried over to the new neighbour, creating a sense that the buildings belong together. More often than not, it's a datum line present in the existing building — a strong line such as a cornice or a rooftop around which its design is ordered — that is copied in the new one. Sometimes, similar materials are used.

There is maybe no new building in Toronto that reaches out quite so conspicuously as The Whitfield does to its neighbour, 184 Front East. The former is a new Menkes condo tower, the latter is an 8-storey Alleid REIT office building, built in 1990 and designed to mimic the early 1900s industrial warehouse typology of the area, but in a Post-Modern style. In this image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo, the Whitfield's podium, mostly stepped back from the street to create a wider public realm, reaches out to 184 Front East in a flowing embrace, matching its materiality while carrying over its rooftop datum line.

Looking up to The Whitfield, under construction beside 184 Front East, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo

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UrbanToronto has a research service, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.​​​