another biggie set to start (Toronto)
 

somewhat old news but I did check out the Festival Centre site and the parking lot is indeed closed

make that 8 five hundred footer under construction and one less block sized surface lot

Yup, took this picture yesterday, the site is indeed fenced off.

I'm a big fan of the idea of coupling the film center with the tower. Heck the new venue will get me off my ass and down to the film festival. Only concern is the heritage buildings in the area are begining to look a little out of place in the neighbourhood. Hope they don't all conviniently fall into disrepair. The film festival building should be a welcome addition to the city but I'm a little concerned with the anything goes kind of planning in the area. - Ice

Amazing news!!!

Good news, although I still don't like the tower design.

We really need much tighter laws for this kind of thing.

Although I like the tower, it's too bad it has to be on this particular site. I always thought it was a great site to put a Toronto-style Covent Garden type place. Considering it's right in the theatre district, it would be a great place for some shops, street performers and such.

Any one have renderings of this tower?
Or where I can go to see this building?

There is no question we need stronger laws to protect our Heritage buildings. I am vague on the specifics, but I believe some changes happened last year to at least add some teeth to the laws.
In this specific case, the building is going up on a parking lot, so I am totally in favour of it. This is an extremely important project for our city as the TIFF positions itself in the world of film festivals.

With the Ritz hotel nearby..this area could become the new "Yorkville"

The Toronto International Film Festival Group and the King and John Festival Corporation have selected Toronto-based architectural firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) to design TIFFG's international Festival Centre and a soaring residential condominium development, Festival Tower.

The TIFFG Facility Committee conducted an architect selection process. KPMB rose above an international and diverse list of firms that included some of the newest and most intriguing architectural firms in the world.




Formed in 1987, the partnership of architects Bruce Kuwabara, Thomas Payne, Marianne McKenna and Shirley Blumberg is recognized both nationally and internationally for excellence in architecture, urban and interior design, and brings an award-winning portfolio of projects throughout North America and Europe. KPMB has received more than 60 awards for outstanding architecture, interior design, and contributions to city building and the greater community. The firm has received eight Governor General's Awards, Canada's highest recognition of achievement in the field. Past projects include the Art Gallery of Ontario (phase three expansion), Design Exchange (1997), and Hilton Toronto Hotel (2001). Their current portfolio includes the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canadian Embassy in Berlin, Le Quartier Concordia at Concordia University in Montreal, that involves the design of three new academic buildings, and the Montreal Centre for Genomics and Proteomics at McGill University.

cool tower.

VIFF did this a couple years ago
 

Congrats on TIFF getting a new home. The Vancouver International Film Festival went a similar route a couple years ago and broke some new ground as far as density bonusing goes in this city. The developer was interested in getting some additional density and height on its downtown residential tower project and had already run out of the usual options: heritage density transefer, City of Vancouver social housing fund, etc. The City development planner working with the developer on the project brought forward the idea that the city would allow the developer a whole second tower on the site, a third of a city block in length, in exchange for the construction of a new home for the VIFF, complete with office and production space, a large reception area, and theatre. It is home base during VIFF, which also uses three other theatres for a total of 11 screens. During the off season the theatre runs festival-calibre films.

http://www.vifc.org/images/exterior.jpg

Very cool! I did not know that had happened!

I like the design. It's not too tall, but it'll fit in well without the surroundings.

^Im not complaining but 500 feet is extremely tall for the neighbourhood

but it would fit in with 600 foot (RBC) and 700 foot building (RITZ) under construction nearby.

Not to mention the soon to be announce 750+ ft Shangri-La.

Nice pics Loved the renderings. Thank you for posting WHISTLERINMUSKOKA.

Should look good once completed.