Location: 212 King Street West, Toronto
Developers: Dream and Humbold Properties
Architects: SHoP Architects and Adamson Associates Architects
In the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District, Dream Office REIT and Humbold Properties have plans for a mixed-use skyscraper that would deliver 1.1 million square-feet of real estate.
The recently proposed 79-storey tower, located at 212, 214 and 220 King Street West, would consist of office, retail and apartment space above three existing heritage-protected buildings. Approximately 588 rental units of various sizes, along with 660,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail area and multiple rooftops terraces would be incorporated into the project.
Renderings created by New York-based SHoP Architects show a vertical high-rise tower extending from the heritage buildings. Restaurant and retail uses would occupy the lower third of the tower, topped by several floors of commercial space. A rooftop terrace and residential amenity area would divide the residential rental portion at the top of the tower from the lower segments.
“The design draws inspiration from the history, materiality and rhythm of the heritage buildings to generate a uniquely contemporary architectural interpretation,” says the project’s website.
Information from the project’s website and the Ontario Heritage Register note that the three historical buildings were constructed in the early 20th century — the Union Building at 212 King Street West, the Canadian General Electric Building at 214 King Street West, and the Nicholls Building at 220 King Street West.
The buildings are currently in use as restaurant space, most notably The Elephant and Castle pub on the corner of Simcoe and King streets.
A civic scaled atrium would act as the lobby entrance to the office building while providing access to the PATH system and lending space for rooftops areas on the heritage building. The development would support 6,000 new office and retail jobs in the King-Spadina and Financial District, according to the developers.
Building upon the King Street Transit Corridor pilot project, 212 King Street West would also expand the public realm, making way for widened sidewalks, street furniture and space for events.
The project website for 212 King Street West states that the planning process is in its early stages, and a virtual public meeting is scheduled for Monday January 25th at 7pm.
Dream is also involved in another high-rise project in the area, Mirvish+Gehry, which, according to reporting by the Globe and Mail, will be coming to market in 2021.
