Best Tall Building under 100 meters Award of Excellence: River City 3, Toronto
David Wex
Partner
Urban Capital, Toronto
Andre Perrotte
Principal
Saucier + Perrotte Architectes, Montreal
Integrating the Waterfront and Urban Core in Toronto
River City is positioned at a major entry point into Toronto's downtown core. The project is meant to integrate the waterfront pathways and one of the city’s major parks, while at the same time being steps from several vibrant neighborhoods. Spanning the area from King Street East to the new Corktown Common Park, and from the Don River to River Street, it was the first development of the carefully planned West Don Lands neighborhood, and the starting point for Toronto’s waterfront redevelopment initiative. It ties together Corktown, the Distillery District, and other East End neighborhoods to the downtown core.
River City Phase 3 (RC3) draws inspiration from its industrial roots in the heart of Toronto’s West Don Lands. It is the first and only residential high-rise tower in the city’s emerging eastern neighborhood. Black, white and angular, the architecture anchors the surrounding landscape and existing River City community. Transforming the former brownfield site with its tall, asymmetrical form and cantilevered cubes, the third phase of the community seamlessly integrates with surrounding mid-rise buildings. Interpreting the site’s heritage, the tower’s architecture features an industrial palette of aluminum, translucent glass and formed concrete, with its vertical volumes representing black and white crystalline minerals. Its jagged elevation fosters an opening for new building types, and includes townhomes, condos and penthouses. Surrounded by parks and public spaces, extruded box-shaped windows provide unique views, looking outward over Corktown Common Park and Toronto’s Don River. It links a public realm of pedestrian-friendly streets and parks, with an architecture inspired by movement and continuity.
