Note: multiple Selection poll! Vote for all you like/approve of
(or if you like just vote for the best one, the option is up to you)
Seeing the spire being constructed on Trump had me thinking. While opinions of the building itself are highly polarized, the spire has for the most part been viewed positively. Either that or a large number of those that don't like it have been keeping quiet. Personally I find the building 'lacking' in a few respects, but the spire is starting to impress me. Weather you view it as comparable to the classical spires of the past or consider it to be tacky. There really isn't much like it in Canada.
So that brings about my question.
Which Canadian skyscraper has the best roof-top feature?
With that in mind I've made a poll with a list of buildings.
Keep in mind this is exclusively about a distinctive roof top feature topping off a predominate Canadian
skyscraper and
not the best design of the upper portion of a building. This does present some difficulties in determining what qualifies and what does not. For instance, the distinctive V near the top of Scotia Plaza would not qualify it for consideration in this category(well that eliminates my bias lol). Other examples would be Canterra Tower, Purdy's Wharf and One London Place. Since the set backs on the upper portion of each of those buildings is not a 'roof feature'. Also, if the design is generally the same for a large portion of the building leading up to the roof, even if its angled/curved and very distinctive, then no matter how good you feel the design tops off the building, it cannot be considered (i.e. BOW, Jameson House, etc.) Also note that by roof-top feature I am referring strictly to architectural elements and not amenities or environment features.
I've limited the buildings on the poll to only those which are
highly prominent/visible in a cities skyline, with a minimal height of at least 90m/300ft, meaning no midrises. Otherwise there would be just too many buildings to consider. But if you feel a certain low/mid rise building deserve mentioning, feel free to do so.
I've only included buildings which are completed or largely completed (i.e. Trump). Proposals and buildings in the early stages of construction are not listed. Meaning no Aura, One Bloor, ICE, L tower, Shangri la Toronto, Emerald Park, Gibson Square or Altitude in Montreal. Since we can't exact judge a building accurately based on a render and as we all know, there's a good possibility that the building will not turn out as expected. Historical skyscrapers were not included, this poll is for
modern highrises only. The reason for this is because I feel its like comparing apples to oranges. (How do you/can you compare Le Château Frontenac's roof to Trumps spire?) Same goes for such as churches, monument's and government buildings.
The list is not based on any personal preference. I tried to base the list on buildings which had the most
distinctive roof top's. Which the exclusion of a few that are general view as tacky on internet forums. Since this is still subjective, I'm sure there are buildings off the list which merit consideration. So feel free to submit a 'write in vote'. I was going to include a vote for 'other', but I'm sure that would be number one on the list anyways :p and it I would have to eliminate one of the buildings since the max is 25.
If you have better photo's for any of the buildings rooftop feature I'll gladly update them. Also please try not to vote for a building just to support your hometown and if you are not a fan of these kinds of architectural features. And, if possible, try not to let you opinion of the the rest of the building influence your vote. Lastly, if you feel that buildings would look better off without such things, than please ignore this thread.
There are 25 selections and since there is no way to restrict how may you can vote for in a multiple selection poll, vote for those that you like.
Without further ado here are the candidates;
(listed from tallest to shortest based on pinnacle height)
Name / Location / Type of feature
Trump, Toronto (spire)
from drum118;
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthr...ler%29/page481
TD Canada Trust Tower, Toronto (spire)
from bobcatnorth;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobcatnorth/2374892096/
Le 1250 Boulevard René-Lévesque, Montreal (spire & hat)
http://www.aviewoncities.com/gallery...?key=kveca0876
Eighth Avenue Place I, Calgary (slanted roof)
from kw5150 on this forum
Ritz, Toronto (angled roof)
from Mo-tage on urbantoronto.ca;
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...138250&page=21
Le 1000 rue de la Gauchetière, Montreal (slanted roof)
from Emporis
4 Season's, Toronto (glass fins)
Its a bit premature I know, I'll update the photo once the fins are in place which will be soon. For now look at the fin's on the shorter buildings and imagine it without the concrete box behind it.
from steveve;
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthr...P-S%29/page180
Living Shangri-La, Vancouver (glass fins)
from SFUVancouver on this forum
Bankers Hall (either one), Calgary (slanted roof)
http://blog.devauld.ca/tag/plumbing/
RBC Centre, Toronto - green building on the right(partially slanted roof)
from skybean;
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...379644&page=15
Centennial Place, Calgary (spire, curved roof)
from Wikipedia
Jamieson Place, Calgary (spire)
http://www.sotawall.com/portfolio/Canada/Jamieson-feba/
Le 1501 McGill, Montreal (pyramid roof)
http://www.polarisrealty.com/en/prop...state_property
The Private Residences at Hotel Georgia, Vancouver (partially slanted roof)
from officedweller;
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=542075&page=3
Shaw Tower, Vancouver (hat)
http://www.pnwarchitecture.com/Build...Shaw-Tower.php
Tour KPMG, Montreal (slanted roof)
from DenverDane;
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=322931
One Park Tower, Mississauga (slanted roof)
from Jasonzed;
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=569567&page=2
The Melville, Vancouver (spire and partially slanted roof)
from raggedy13;
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=510316
Metro Hall, Toronto (angled roof, partial)
from Emporis
Telus, Toronto (glass fins)
from cruzin4u;
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthr...Co.%29/page107
Cathedral Place, Vancouver (spire and slanted roof)
from Michael Francis McCarthy;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sagamio...n/photostream/
The Pinnacle, Vancouver (spire)
from Emporis
Manitoba Hydro Headquarters, Winnipeg (solar chimney and hat)
http://www.siteselection.com/issues/...MC-Insider.cfm
Minto Metropole, Ottawa (curved roof)
from Wikipedia
Enbridge Tower, Edmonton (slanted roof)
from Emporis
Examples of prominent Historical Buildings that were excluded;
(from east to west)
Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City
Tour La Maritime, Quebec City
Édifice Aldred, Montreal
Tour de la Banque Royale, Montreal
Commerce Court North, Toronto
Old City Hall, Toronto
Royal York, Toronto
Peace Tower, Ottawa
The Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver
Here are some other buildings that were considered for the list but discounted on the basis of;
A) the roof top feature, while being a welcome addition, isn’t distinctive enough
B) the building is not or is no longer very notable/visible in the skyline or,
C) the roof top element, while being very visible and distinctive, is largely considered to be tacky
I’m not going to say which was the case for each building, I’m sure we can all figure out which might be considered the more tacky ones.
(In alphabetical order)
18 York, Toronto
18 Yorkville, Toronto
Atria, Toronto
Arriva 34, Calgary
Beyond the Sea, Toronto
Caesars Windsor Forum Tower, Windsor
Canada Life Building, Toronto
Canada Place, Vancouver
Casa, Toronto
Central City, Surry
Cité du Commerce Électronique, Montreal
Ellipse, Toronto
Empress Walk, Toronto
Engineering and Computer Science/Visual Arts Buildings, Montreal
Epcor Tower, Edmonton
Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls
First Canadian Centre, Calgary
Five West. Calgary
Founders Square, Halifax
Grace on Richards, Vancouver
Grand Corniche II
Hôtel Intercontinental, Montreal
Le Crystal de la Montagne, Montreal
Lumiere, Toronto
Nestle Building, Toronto
Nuera I, Calgary
NY Towers, Toronto
Rogers Building, Toronto
One Bedford, Toronto
One Canada Centre, Winnipeg
One Queen East, Toronto
One Wall Center, Vancouver
Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, Vancouver
The Barclay, Calgary
The Met, Toronto
The Montana, Calgary
Tour La Maritime, Montreal
Trimark Tower, Toronto
Ultra Ovation, Mississauga
Village Olympique, Montreal
W Building-43, Vancouver (arguably my favorite building constructed during the 00’s)
West One, Vancouver
World Exchange Plaza, Ottawa
Yonge-Richmond Centre, Toronto