Today, I've decided to take a look at Toronto and Chicago and see on what metrics Toronto can catch Chicago, one of the 3 leading global highrise capitals. Chicago is famous for it's Deep Dish Pizza and they are famous for their Mob Connections during the height of the Vegas Era, they are also famous for their beloved (although beleagured Chicago Cubs) but something that Chicago is known for all over the world is their sky high and mighty Architecture. This is a city, that Toronto has always aimed at and admired from afar, we long to reach the level of Chicago, not only in the size of our city but, in the stature of our structures. Looking at our population, it is concievable that we will pass Chicago population wise in the next 15 to 20 years whether you're looking at the city level, where Chicago leads us by at the most mabye 100,000 people, or the greater area, in which Chicago has about a 2 million person edge on Toronto.
(Of coruse stats being stats, and georgraphic areas more political than objective, the true total populations of both mega cities is going to be hard to define. But lets just say in all respects and purposes, Chicago has about 20 years on us in this regard.)
Now this is a Skyscraper site (or Blog! lol), so lets get down to business. Chicago has recently built some fine gem skyscraper recently, and while presently they are not building as tall as Toronto, they have had at least a 50 year head start on Toronto when it comes to skyscrapers and classic skyscraper style. But recently lets say in the last 5 years Chicago has built at least 2 of the most skyline defining towers in North America, if not the World. Of course I'm talking about the Trump Tower Chicago and the Aqua Condo Tower.
Today, I'll start the comparison with the Aqua Tower
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| Aqua Tower Chicago |
You might look at this tower and say it has a passing resemblance to One Bloor in Toronto. And of course those of you from Chicago will likely say that One Bloor is a pretty good, rip off of this tower. And those from Toronto will say that One Bloor is a more definative stylistic take on the Aqua Concept. No matter your feelings on the matter, it is some thing that Toronto has now reached parity with Chicago on the design front. Looking at One Bloor it is hard to see how the Toronto tower, of almost an equal height and reaching 260 meters tall, can now go head to head with one of the greatest towers recently built in Chicago.
The Chicago Tower has about 20 meters on the One from Toronto, but the grace and style of the Toronto Tower make up for that shortfall with a certain wow factor. The Toronto Tower will anchor perhaps one of the most import intersections in Toronto, if not all of Canada and Bloor and Yonge and thus granting the owners a certain level of retail managerment and leasing power. Yes, Toronto also has a Mink Mile which has been built along the Bloor Strip, which if not now, certainly in the future with planned redevelopment can go right up there with the best the most premier locations of the United States can offer up.
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| One Bloor Toronto |
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