[nightstreak]

Can they un-value engineer the back wall plz? This rendering shows what a difference the cladding the architects planned would've had vs the plain drywall we got

Honestly, this is probably the easiest to upgrade. What would it cost to buy granite tiles and apply it to the wall? $10K? It really warms the space.

Regarding the south walls, where the coffee shop is, there are two little rooms which I don't know what are used for but the flat wall next to it is just a frame and drywall. Could easily be made open into the main space or enclosed with glass instead.

The east side is a stairwell so there has to be a wall there. Well, if they hadn't overruled the award winning design, the stairwell would've been outside in a glass tube. I mean, why hire RSHP and then just undo nearly all of their notorious design features?

Even something like this inside:

This is making me depressed. I hope The HUB gets built with a client that isn't like the cheapskate City of Toronto and their meddling bureaucracy. I would love a real Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners in Toronto.

 

[Natika33]

Regarding the south walls, where the coffee shop is, there are two little rooms which I don't know what are used for but the flat wall next to it is just a frame and drywall. Could easily be made open into the main space or enclosed with glass instead.

View attachment 642391

If you mean the little rooms behind the two side-by-side little doors from my shot below, I found out they are washrooms.

 

[Natika33]

Are you posting from the stairwell now? Have you made contact with any of the rats and maybe named them? Do any spectral images appear when the bells toll at St James', a couple blocks away?

42

Apparently I caused enough of a raucous that not only did a market seller come to my rescue, a security guard was hot on his heels, then the head of security stopped me later as I was leaving to ask if I was okay (he'd seen me on the cameras).

 

[waterismyhouse]

the dywall situtaion is short sighted, seeing how busy the space is & the type of activies happing here stone/wood would have been much more robust, all it's gonna take is for someone to knock into the wall and you're gonna have a hole there.

 

[everydayhim]

While he can and has spoken for himself, I think its important to say @DSCToronto spends more of his 'free' time holding public officials to account, not just here on UT but via emails, phone calls, in person, through the media and by by attending many, many meetings.......than the vast majority of people in this City, including UT'ers.

I would not read him as defending anything here...........merely explaining.

helpful context to know, thank you.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I know the glazing wouldn't have had to be completely transparent, but glass bridges are actually quite difficult, given the potential for people to look up and under others' garments. I ran into this issue in a past project and we had to just abandon glass, unfortunately.

There are extant examples in the city - Union Station Bay concourse for one. There is also the even older example of the Gerstein Science Library heritage stacks where the flooring is entirely glass.

Another compliant is the "garage doors" - they are so heavy-handed and clumsy.

AoD

 

[nightstreak]

There are extant examples in the city - Union Station Bay concourse for one. There is also the even older example of the Gerstein Science Library heritage stacks where the flooring is entirely glass.

Yes, I don't see any personal privacy issues with glass bridges. In fact, I don't think I've seen any completely transparent glass floors in public spaces, they're usually frosted.

Another compliant is the "garage doors" - they are so heavy-handed and clumsy.

I'd forgive many of the shortcomings of this building if the garage doors had been red or a bright orange to match the bridges. The client (the City of Toronto) sucked so much fun out of this building — and not all of it had to do with money.

 

[Towered]

Can they un-value engineer the back wall plz? This rendering shows what a difference the cladding the architects planned would've had vs the plain drywall we got

Literally anything would have been better - and by that I seriously even mean those peel and stick "tiles" you can buy at Dollarama. What a disgrace.

 

[Northern Light]

There are extant examples in the city - Union Station Bay concourse for one. There is also the even older example of the Gerstein Science Library heritage stacks where the flooring is entirely glass.

For those unfamiliar with this Toronto curiosity

Images are still cells sources from:

The glass is frosted, as you can see, the stacks come all the way from the bottom through the floors to the top.

I didn't go here for books often, I think, just twice in my years at U of T as this was fairly Med. Sci focused when I was there, but I did tour a few guests through.

 

[Milaisacat]

"Soft openings" are typically when a restaurant, coffee shop, store, etc., is complete and ready for customers, with the few days of unofficially being open constituting: (a) marking to create buzz; and/or, (b) finalizing staff training and operational procedures with real customers to stress-test everything before the official opening. It seems to me that this 'soft opening' was more like a 'sneak peek' than a true soft opening, when everything is ready and staff act as if it were 'open'.

 

[nightstreak]

"Soft openings" are typically when a restaurant, coffee shop, store, etc., is complete and ready for customers, with the few days of unofficially being open constituting: (a) marking to create buzz; and/or, (b) finalizing staff training and operational procedures with real customers to stress-test everything before the official opening. It seems to me that this 'soft opening' was more like a 'sneak peek' than a true soft opening, when everything is ready and staff act as if it were 'open'.

Well, I'm going to be nearby today. We'll soon find out how "soft" this launch was. If they're truly going to complete unfinished details between now and May, then they'll be undergoing small construction jobs ahead of every Saturday when they need to stop for the weekend markets. So, if my calculations are correct, it should be undergoing work early on in the week, i.e. today.

What will I see?

A. Mezzanine event space drywall being removed?
B. Blank north wall being tiled?
C. Exposed fire retardant being covered with ceiling panels or louvres?
D. Potted plants dropped off?
E. Bikeshare rack being installed to block desire path?
F. @Natika33 stuck in the stairwell?

Place your bets gentlemen and gentlewomen. Today may be your lucky day.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Well, I'm going to be nearby today. We'll soon find out how "soft" this launch was. If they're truly going to complete unfinished details between now and May, then they'll be undergoing small construction jobs ahead of every Saturday when they need to stop for the weekend markets. So, if my calculations are correct, it should be undergoing work early on in the week, i.e. today.

What will I see?

A. Mezzanine event space drywall being removed?
B. Blank north wall being tiled?
C. Exposed fire retardant being covered with ceiling panels or louvres?
D. Potted plants dropped off?
E. Bikeshare rack being installed to block desire path?
F. @Natika33 stuck in the stairwell?

Place your bets gentlemen and gentlewomen. Today may be your lucky day.

Given the record of this building I wouldn't want to be a betting man. But push comes to shove:

A. 0% probability
B. 0% probability
C. 0% probability
D. 0% probability
E. 100% probability at some point
F. Lightning does strike twice.

Also, is it too late to ask for some blocks a la Union Station/Front Street?

AoD

 

[ML555]

It definitely seems as if the overall aesthetic of the market floor doesn't quite match what a lot of people in the forum had likely envisioned. The Building is still excellent (as in, far better than what was there before only years ago), but of course there are so many odd choices. I should have known those large exterior vents would stay black and not be painted as an accent.

 

[evandyk]

I should have known those large exterior vents would stay black and not be painted as an accent.

I still think a group from UT should do it ourselves under the cloak of darkness one night. We can set up a Signal group chat to coordinate. Just don't accidentally invite one of those narcs from the National Post.

 

[nightstreak]

Well, I'm going to be nearby today. We'll soon find out how "soft" this launch was. If they're truly going to complete unfinished details between now and May, then they'll be undergoing small construction jobs ahead of every Saturday when they need to stop for the weekend markets. So, if my calculations are correct, it should be undergoing work early on in the week, i.e. today.

What will I see?

A. Mezzanine event space drywall being removed?
B. Blank north wall being tiled?
C. Exposed fire retardant being covered with ceiling panels or louvres?
D. Potted plants dropped off?
E. Bikeshare rack being installed to block desire path?
F. @Natika33 stuck in the stairwell?

Place your bets gentlemen and gentlewomen. Today may be your lucky day.

Given the record of this building I wouldn't want to be a betting man. But push comes to shove:

A. 0% probability
B. 0% probability
C. 0% probability
D. 0% probability
E. 100% probability at some point
F. Lightning does strike twice.

Also, is it too late to ask for some blocks a la Union Station/Front Street?

AoD

I am back. It was to my lack of surprise, neither of the above options but another entirely. What I found was.... Drum rolls....

G. A city bureaucrat with a grey bucket of paint removing the remaining colour from the building.*

*surely you know I'm kidding but given the state of this building, it's a realistic option so you can never be too careful.

Some observations:
- The I beams around the entire perimeter of the building are a perfect stoop for shitting birds. Another one of those how did they not think of that?

- The cafe does not appear to be leased or they're in no rush to outfit it to open. Nothing is done.

- The court entrance should've been through St. Lawrence Hall. People are going in through the main door on Front and wandering around an empty market. Not your typical judicial ambiance arrival. Big step down from Old City Hall if you're an alleged criminal with a taste for architecture.

- The exterior is not as bad as I had thought. The orange louvres really save the building.

- The grey vents were a bad choice though. They don't look fun, they look utilitarian. They're already full of bird poop and other unmentionable substances.

- The interior is boring as heck and does not look at all finished. The exposed fire retardant ceilings get attention even from outside. I can't believe they thought this was ok.

- If there is any intention of "finishing" the building before its official launch in mere weeks, there is certainly no rush as there was zero activity nor any appearance of anything being worked on.

- @Natika33 appears to have escaped.