Urban Toronto’s tour of Festival Tower moves up onto the roof and into the mechanical box and lantern. These are largely ornamental and will remain virtually empty but they bring the tower’s design to an emphatic conclusion and are key to the building’s profile on the skyline.
Text by Doug Convoy, Photos by Interchange42
A view toward the lantern, to the left of which is the mechanical penthouse.
Both lantern and mechanical box are clad in 100 % frit, low-iron glass curtain.
A view inside the mechanical penthouse. This impressive structure will remain mostly empty. Like the lantern, its main purpose is to complete the building’s architecture and give it presence on the skyline.
The fritted glazing panels for the lantern and mechanical box are set forward from the primary steel structure by about 10” to prevent shadow lines and ensure even glow from within. This is crucial for the lantern in particular which, outfitted in white LEDs, will serve as a major beacon in the city.
The soft glow inside the mechanical penthouse is most apparent in this shot taken with the sun behind the photographer.
Heading back outside looking westward.
This portion of the mechanical penthouse houses the building’s HVAC systems. It is clad in a window wall of grey, back-painted glazing panels. The tower’s window washing unit is in the foreground while in the background the temporary derrick used to remove the construction crane is still in place. It should be coming down shortly.
That’s it for the roof. Tomorrow, Urban Toronto takes you down to the amenities. So, stay tuned!
