A skyline-altering proposal has been tabled for the heritage Dominion Public Building at 1 Front Street West in Downtown Toronto. Applications for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendments submitted to the City by Larco Investments is calling for an adaptive re-use of the existing building that would transform it into a destination with new retail and restaurant space, and a boutique hotel. The proposal also seeks to add a pair of architectsAlliance-designed rental towers of 45 and 49 storeys above the heritage podium, in a project known as One Front.

Looking south to One Front, image via submission to City of Toronto

The two towers would rise above the east end of the heritage building, closest to Yonge Street. The taller west tower would reach a height of 170.8 metres, while the east tower would rise 163.8 metres. The east tower, closest to Yonge Street, would feature a triangular floor plate to create a three-sided tower, while the west tower would take on an extruded trapezoidal massing. These massings aim to address Toronto's tower separation guidelines with a gap ranging from 22.78 metres to 27.25 metres, (the City's guidelines call for minimum tower separations of 25 metres). The space between the two towers would allow for sunlight penetration and views for residents. The east tower would have a 34 metre separation distance from the L Tower. The west tower would have a minimum separation distance of 25 metres to the CIBC Square north tower.

Looking southeast to One Front, image via submission to City of Toronto

The heritage building currently onsite would have its facades retained entirely, wth minor modifications for such things as new doors. Major interior modifications are proposed, however, to support 8,986 square metres of retail space and a 22,045 square metre boutique hotel. While the ornate "long room" on the ground floor is among the heritage elements planned for preservation and incorporation, the ground floor’s Front Street frontage would be lowered to street level, and the second floor would be removed entirely to create a double-height main level.

Looking west to One Front, image via submission to City of Toronto

The ground floor would also house 1,592 square metres of hotel floor area, serving the 251-room boutique hotel proposed on levels two through four of the existing building. A 669 square metre hotel restaurant and 245 square metre bar are also proposed at rooftop level of the heritage building, wth outdoor space beside a green roof which would stretch toward Bay Street. In addition, the fifth floor would be home to residential amenities serving the rental towers above the east end of the complex, with 1,672 square metres of indoor amenity space and 913 square metres of outdoor amenity space proposed.

Looking east to One Front, image via submission to City of Toronto

Of the total 86,758 m2 development, 55,727 m2 would be dedicated to residential use. The 836 rental units proposed within the two towers would include 120 studio units (14% of total), 424 one-bedroom and one-bedroom plus den units (51% of total), 208 two-bedroom units (25% of total), and 84 three-bedroom units (10% of total).

The site’s adjacency to the second phase of CIBC Square at 141 Bay Street means that underground loading docks can be shared between the two developments, while parking in the three-level underground garage will be accessed through the P2 level of the CIBC Square garage. 94 residential parking spaces are proposed on the P1 and P2 levels, and 89 commercial parking spaces on the P2 and P3 levels. An additional 16 car-share spaces would be housed on the P3 level. Proximity to Union Station is being cited as a reason for limited parking, though the garage is also set to include 842 long-term and 84 short-term residential bicycle parking spaces, as well as 22 commercial long-term and 38 commercial short-term bicycle parking spaces.

Aerial view looking south to One Front, image via submission to City of Toronto

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.