Architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) has unveiled new plans for a glass skyscraper in Toronto, Canada. The 46-storey office building will be built entirely green and will have a tapered shape to minimise the effects of wind.
160 Front Street will be located in downtown Toronto next to the iconic CN Tower. The building's orientation is aligned with the direction the wind usually blows. In this way, the wind load on the building is reduced. Much time was spent on the analysis of those wind flows during the study phase. This led to a design of the building that tapers at the top and bottom. In this way, the structure can best dissipate the wind load while having minimal impact on the pedestrian zone, while creating generous space for adjacent pavements.
AS+GG is no stranger to the phenomenon of wind loads on buildings. The firm also signed for the massive 1,007m-high Jeddah tower currently under construction in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). In addition, Adrian Smith was also the one who designed the world-famous Burj Khalifa.
The new skyscraper will receive LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the most widely used methods worldwide to assess a building's sustainability. To qualify for platinum status, the skyscraper will have to achieve significant energy savings in design and technology, among other things. The building also aims to score highly in terms of human health and well-being. Not much is yet known about the sustainability features. What is known are the special windows that should reduce reflection. In addition, a lot of daylight will be able to enter, reducing the need for (electric) lighting. The roof of the new building will be green, while water consumption will be reduced as much as possible by reusing and collecting rainwater.
The exact height of 160 Front Street is not yet known, but it is expected to be around 240m. The building is being realised Cadillac Fairview in collaboration with local architecture firm B+H Architects.
