Vancouver architectural firm James K.M. Cheng Architects Inc. is expanding its scope to design a 65-storey mixed-use building in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Located at 180 University Avenue where it meets Adelaide Street, the tower will complement the newly opened Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts by Diamond + Schmitt Architects, located just one short block away.
A five-star hotel will occupy the lower 15 floors, with the remaining 50 floors devoted to residential condominiums. Soaring 700 feet into the sky, the building will be defined at street level by a generous three-storey atrium. The atrium’s transparency will engage pedestrian and vehicular traffic, a positive contribution to this urban neighbourhood.
A heritage component comprises a portion of the project in the retention and restoration of the existing Bishop Block, originally completed in 1830. The project is also intended to be LEED-certifiable.
Working with design architect Cheng is Toronto’s Young & Wright Architects Inc. as the architect of record. ERA Architects, Inc. are the heritage architects for the project, with Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg assuming landscape architectural duties. The developers for 180 University Avenue are Westbank Project Corp. and Peterson Investment Group.