TORONTO — Cadillac Fairview (CF) has unveiled plans for a new pedestrian bridge across Queen Street in Toronto to connect the CF Toronto Eaton Centre with the Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue retail outlets.
The firm’s April 10 media statement indicated it held an international design competition and selected architects WilkinsonEyre for the contract. The new bridge will replace an existing structure. Construction is slated to begin this month.
The bridge will be assembled adjacent to the shopping centre on James Street and lifted into place once complete, with the new bridge opening this fall.
"We designed the bridge’s form to connect together the two inherent geometries of each building, transforming from the historical, circular arches of the Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue building to the modern rectangular geometry of CF Toronto Eaton Centre. This union of the two buildings is further reinforced by the use of bronze and glass cladding, inspired by the materials used on both buildings, which flow, wave-like, in opposite directions across the bridge," said Dominic Bettison, designer of the bridge and director at WilkinsonEyre, in the statement.
Other contributors to the project include Zeidler Partnership Architect, who designed the original bridge and CF Toronto Eaton Centre in association with B+H; construction manager PCL Construction; electrical and lighting engineer Mulvey & Banani International Inc.; Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers; and mechanical engineer Mitchell Partnership Inc.
"Beyond the simple utility of construction of a bridge across Queen Street, this pedestrian bridge will serve as a unique architectural icon and impressive space in its own right," said Wayne Barwise, executive vice-president, development, Cadillac Fairview. "CF Toronto Eaton Centre is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and with approximately two-million people using the bridge annually, it was time to enhance both its esthetics and functionality for our shoppers and the public by creating a sculptural urban feature, as well as a unique identifier for the city."
The new bridge is one component of the redevelopment of CF Toronto Eaton Centre, a plan that includes better incorporating Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue into the mall, said the statement.
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