Scotia Plaza
| Scotia Plaza | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Alternative names | Scotia Plaza Tower |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 40 King Street West Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A9 |
| Coordinates | 43°38′57″N 79°22′46″W / 43.649167°N 79.379444°WCoordinates: 43°38′57″N 79°22′46″W / 43.649167°N 79.379444°W |
| Construction started | 1985 |
| Completed | 1988 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 274.9 m (902 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 68 |
| Floor area | 148,658 m2 (1,600,140 sq ft) |
| Elevator count | 44 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | PCL Constructors |
| Architect | WZMH Architects |
| Developer | Campeau Corporation Bank of Nova Scotia |
| Structural engineer | Quinn Dressel Associates Hidi Rae Consulting Engineers |
| References | |
| [1][2][3][4][5] | |
Scotia Plaza is a Postmodern commercial office complex in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The complex is situated in the financial district of the downtown core, and is generally bordered by Yonge Street on the east, King Street West on the south, Bay Street on the west, and Adelaide Street West on the north. Scotia Plaza is connected to the PATH network, and contains 190,000 m2 (2,045,143 sq ft) of office space and 40 retail stores. The complex continues to serve as the head office of Scotiabank, and is the second tallest skyscraper in Canada.[6]
Essential to this construction project was maintaining the Bank of Nova Scotia's head office and Toronto Main banking Branch functions with minimal disruption throughout the eight year construction work. The Bank's project and construction managers were Goldie-Burgess Ltd., followed by W. Tamm Consulting Limited.
On January 19, 2012, Scotiabank announced that they would be selling the iconic building. Commercial real estate industry sources estimate the sale price could reach $1 billion.[7]
Contents |
[edit] Architecture
The historic Bank of Nova Scotia head office building at 44 King Street West, which was designed by architects Mathers and Haldenby (with Beck and Eadie), and built from 1946 to 1951. This 115 m (377 ft) tall, 27 storey building was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act by the City of Toronto in 1975. It was completely renovated with major, historically sensitive architectural design changes including a 14 storey high glass atrium connecting the original building to the new, 68 storey structure.
The modern component, comprising a main building at 68 storeys above ground and 6 storeys below ground, with two smaller extensions at 104 Yonge Street and 11 Adelaide Street West. The excavation reached a depth of 110 ft (33.5 m) which is the deepest excavation for a building in Canada's history. Within the basement levels lies Canada's only bullion bank gold vault.[8][9] The extensions incorporate the historic façades of the former Wood Gundy building on Adelaide Street and the Dunfield Building on Yonge Street. Designed by WZMH Architects, the modern structure was constructed between 1985 and 1988. Unlike most high office towers which use steel to bear structural loads and a glass curtain wall as their exterior facade, the 68 storey tower was constructed of high strength reinforced concrete. Napoleon Granite, quarried in Sweden, cut and polished in Italy, and then imported to Canada, was used for the exterior and some of the interior surfaces. The main tower at 275 m (902 ft) is Canada's third tallest building and the 22nd tallest building in North America.
The ground floor is characterized by the Atrium which contains a large banking hall incorporating architectural features from both the historic and modern components of the complex. This hall includes a 40-metre (131 ft) large, metal structure referred to as the "Circle of the Provinces" which houses the teller services for the Bank of Nova Scotia's main branch.
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Scotia Plaza; viewed through the trees in front of the Toronto-Dominion Centre
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Scotia Plaza construction
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Scotia Plaza in 2006
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Scotia Plaza at Emporis
- ^ Scotia Plaza at Glass Steel and Stone
- ^ Scotia Plaza at SkyscraperPage
- ^ Scotia Plaza at Structurae
- ^ "Scotia Plaza". York Excavating and Grading LTD. 2010. http://www.yorkexcavating.ca/projects-ScotiaPlaza.html. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/scotiabank-set-to-sell-bay-street-tower-landmark-could-fetch-1-billion/article2307312/
- ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/scotiabank-set-to-sell-bay-street-tower-landmark-could-fetch-1-billion/article2307312/
- ^ "Is Canada's Only Bullion Bank Gold Vault Nearly Empty?" (Press release). Gerard Adams, The National Inflation Association. 8 April 2010. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/is-canadas-only-bullion-bank-gold-vault-nearly-empty-90185037.html. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ Tyler Durden (7 April 2010). "The Latest Gold Fraud Bombshell: Canada's Only Bullion Bank Gold Vault Is Practically Empty". Zero Hedge. http://www.zerohedge.com/article/latest-gold-fraud-bombshell-canadas-only-bullion-bank-gold-vault-practically-empty. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
