User:Guidelinesad/EXPOCity, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre

EXPO City, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre The proposed design for EXPO City Condominium Towers at the is based on several factors, the environment, the qualities of natural light and views, and architectural and tectonic expression. Each phase of the planned community will have a cast stone low rise component with street forming five storey buildings that accommodate pedestrian related commercial areas as well as the building amenities. Above these podiums, there will be five glass towers of 37 to 39 storeys. The towers step back a couple of times as they rise up creating the classic skyscraper profile. The rather tall and slim towers are based on a small floor plate with wide shallow suites, ensuring that all the living spaces have considerable natural light as well as good room dimensions. The exterior faces of these spaces are fundamentally tinted glass with protective coatings giving a balance of brightness and energy efficiency. The tinted glass, with black aluminum mullions, portrays firmness and a strong modern image for the buildings. The buildings will be distinguished with an overt expression of the critical tectonic aspects of the projects – the shear walls that provide the structure that resists the forces of earthquakes or high winds. The proposed playful expression of these walls will give each of the buildings their own identity or character. The first tower will incorporate the idea of the WAVE in its vertical expression on three faces as well as the wave in plane on the fourth side. As one moves about the community the towers will constantly appear in new and intriguing ways. The suites all have balconies or, in some cases glazed balconies or solariums. The balconies are enclosed with glazed balustrades and aluminum frames allowing clear views through the guards to the landscape beyond. The balconies and in many cases roof terraces are generally about 2m deep or better. The buildings, experienced at grade are distinguished by very tall public loggias buffering the commercial storefronts from the street. These coffered 4m high spaces promote a strong sense of community and the importance of the public realm. The central square feature of the master plan is connected to the primary surrounding streets by sky lit gallerias that allow easy pedestrian connections to the tower lobbies, commercial spaces and the urban infrastructure and transit stops. These public spaces contribute to the definition of this new community; the gallerias and loggias will be animated with commercial activity and café life.