Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/331457
courtesy PcL G reat Gulf Homes has once again created a landmark tower at the corner of Charles and Jarvis Streets in Toronto, following the X Condominiums project with X2 Condominiums. "We built the X Condominiums in 2009 and subsequently acquired the land across the street to build the second phase of the project," says Geoff Matthews, VP of development. "While X2 is not a twin tower, the design is very similar in many aspects." Occupancy of the 559-unit tower is expected to begin in the fall of 2014. "X2 is located in midtown Toronto, very close to Yonge and Bloor Streets, and the confluence of two well-travelled subway lines," says Matthews. "Shopping and business centres are easily walkable from here, and X2 is a five minute ride to downtown by rapid transit. Rogers Communications head office is across the street, so among other possibilities for residents, this building appeals generally to city dwellers who want to be close to their place of work." The Great Gulf Homes team worked closely throughout the project with interior designers Cecconi Simone. "Cecconi Simone is a well-respected design firm here in Toronto that does a lot of work both locally and abroad," says Matthews. "They came up with a very modern and clean design with a nice balance of materials and colour palette that complements the architecture of the building. There are some interesting finishes, especially on the lobby level. When people first arrive in the building they can see the quality of the design that signifies what the rest of the complex will look like." X2 Condominiums completes the dual tower gateway to the Yorkville/Bloor area. The dramatic 49-storey building, complete with an eight-storey residential podium, was designed by Wallman Architects and includes a rooftop garden and pool completed by acclaimed landscape architect Janet Rosenberg & Studio. Other amenities for X2 include a two- storey lobby designed by Cecconi Simone with a 24/7 concierge service. Also by Cecconi Simone is an area known as "The Core" on the ninth floor that will include a yoga/aerobics/pilates room, his and hers steam and change rooms, cardio room, weight room, fitness training room, billiard room, kitchen/dining/bar lounge area, piano lounge and pool-side library/lounge. Two guest suites are also available for residents' use. As with other towers that are built in established urban areas, working in a closely-defined area can be challenging and X2 was no exception. "Most of our downtown sites have logistics issues associated with them, but we work closely with the City and local residents to establish site co- ordination plans that work for everyone," says Chris Mallinos, VP, Tucker HiRise Construction Inc. "One major challenge was that the project was constructed next to a hydro substation that provided power to a portion of the downtown core. Toronto Hydro cited concerns over the use of tie-backs under their substation, and consequently, we designed a complicated shoring system using corner braces and rakers within the excavation." To ensure safety and dry living over residential suites, designers at Tucker HiRise developed a double slab system for the outdoor pool over residential suites. "The pool floor is built over a crawl space that contains drains and is waterproofed," says Mallinos. "In the event of any leaks, the suites below are not impacted." Anna Simone, principal of Cecconi Simone and partner in charge of X2, is more than pleased with the outcome. "We took part in all of the interior decisions and worked with Rudy Wallman of Wallman Architects in developing layouts to make sure the suites were livable," she says. "We evaluated the positioning of the core, including the distance to the glazing wall, to ensure different options for the location of the suite entry doors, which would then allow for more variations in the suite layouts. With these considerations taken into account, we could capitalize on sightlines, points of entry and how each room relates to the other. All of these issues were resolved at the beginning of the project. We worked hand-in-hand with all the consultants including electrical, mechanical and structural engineers to ensure that there wasn't a structural column in the centre of living areas, for example." Simone adds, "As a developer, Great Gulf Homes is very particular about their structures. They really understand that it's not just about a beautiful building but also how someone experiences their environment within the building. It's about how people respond to the exterior and interior architecture. Both are important. One doesn't take precedence over the other. They work in harmony." The notion of timelessness underpins Cecconi Simone's design philosophy, guiding the firm through all projects including X2. "We selected materials that are timeless, not just styles that are of the moment," says Simone. "These are materials that have stood the test of time. This is a building that people are going to be living in for a very long time and the common areas, corridors and even the suite entry doors all have lasting visual impact and have to be right," says Simone. She adds that a lot of time was spent on considering these factors and what their combined effect would be. Also, all the tones for the interiors are neutral, earthy and grounded. "Again, it's not about trendy colours it's about longevity and timelessness." In addition to Simone, the design team included Jude Thomson, associate, and Pauline Ayoub, senior designer. X2 Condominiums has a unique vertical cladding system and floor-to-ceiling windows on walls without balconies. Views of the downtown Toronto core, both day and night, are inviting and complete the package of living in this state-of-the-art tower. n location 101 Charles Street E, Toronto, Ontario owner/Developer Great Gulf Homes architect Wallman Architects construction Manager Tucker HiRise Construction Inc. structural consultant Halcrow Yolles – A CH2M Hill Company Mechanical/electrical consultant Able Engineering Inc. lanDscape architecture Janet Rosenberg & Studio interior Design Cecconi Simone total area 475,000 square feet total cost $100 million X2 Condominiums by Laurie Jones courtesy great guLf homes june 2014 /95 X2 Condominiums p.94-95UCON_X2.indd 95 14-06-03 10:32 AM