A bold statement in red for Toronto’s skyline

It’s big, it’s bold and it’s Red. Oh, so, Red, with a capital R.

If architecture is art and art is provocative, the design for the Selby at the site of the former Selby Hotel at Selby Street just south of Bloor at 592 Sherbourne St. will provoke some conversations — and that’s a good thing.

Some will doubtlessly love it. Some will hate it, but people will talk about it and it already seems destined to become an icon on the Toronto skyline. Forget those homogenous glass and steel boxes synonymous with so many high rise condos, this could be the start of something great.

Ironically, it took a Chicago architect to do it, Thomas Kerwin of bKL Architecture in Chicago.

And what a neighbourhood to debut into. Like many of the grand brick homes which lined Sherbourne Street, the old Selby Hotel was once the Gooderham mansion, built by the Gooderham and Worts distillers some 130 years ago.

Later it became the Selby Hotel, home to Ernest Hemingway during his Toronto stopover and in its current incarnation, as the Clarion Hotel and Suites. Also on the property is the R.H. Rundle house which will also be preserved while the Gooderham mansion will be used as office space and amenities for the  residents such as three guest suites.

Next door is the James Cooper Mansion, also another heritage building and itself moved to accommodate Tridel’s condo and keep neighbours happy.

The Selby started off as a condo project but last December was bought out by an investment group who plan to make it the first Toronto all rental high rise for decades.

"We were approached and after some back and forth we got the number that worked," said Sam Crignano CEO of Cityzen Development Group.

"The investors have been looking for the right rental project and there aren’t many around."

Nothing will change vis a vis the design, he said. The building will still rise some 50-storeys with 499 units with five contemporary townhouses, affording a magnificent view of not just the city but also of the nearby Don Valley ravine which will generate a wonderful vista all year around but especially in the spring and fall. There’s a four storey podium at the base with commercial and retail and some of the amenities.

"It’s an interesting neighbourhood, close to everything," said Crignano whose group who bid successfully for the property three years ago and has been working to get this project off the ground since working with partners, Diamondcorp and Fernbrook Homes. Other projects include L-Tower and Absolute in Mississauga, a.k.a the Marilyn (Monroe) buildings. Occupancy is slated for 2019.

Sherbourne Subway station is literally off the back door,  Greektown is just over the bridge while the Mink Mile and Yorkville beckon just three blocks west. There’s also fairly easy bike path access to the Brickworks and the Don Valley ravine trails though coming back up the hill is going to be a leg burner.

With the plum site in hand, Crignano checked in with Kerwin who had just opened his own firm after being with SOM in Chicago, architects for One World Trade Center in New York

"Things were sluggish and he was looking for work and came to Toronto knocking on doors and I liked his portfolio," said Crignano.

"This was the first project opportunity we had since we met him and we wanted to do something different. We wanted to do something that respected the heritage."

Kerwin’s take centered on the red masonry of the Gooderham mansion which he extended into the envelope of the tower itself, both in brick and the spandrels and designed it to ensure it didn’t conflict with any sight lines of the neighbouring structures.

"I had free reign with the client which was great," he said noting the terraces are designed to be integral to the suites and "not just added on."

In a case of be careful what you design, Kerwin is now shopping around for suppliers to match his bold vision.

"We’re still looking for the right colours to match the drawings," he grinned. "I’ve got all kinds of samples here in my office."

That’s good news for manufacturers like Brampton Brick where Vice-President of Sales and Marketing Judy Pryma said they’ve been offering more contemporary brick colours and designs and making inroads in the low and mid-rise sector.

"You see more brick on the low rise and mid rises in older downtown areas where they have to work with heritage buildings and the community," she said.

"Some builders use a lot of brick in high rise but mostly for the last 10 years it’s been glass and steel. Still, trends change."

With more concerns about sustainable design, climate change and the cost of energy in heating and cooling those glass-sheathed towers it’s expected there will eventually be a shift to more masonry and concrete. While pre-cast holds a major share, there’s always hope brick will come back into fashion for high rises and the Selby could be the vanguard of that trend.