One Bloor - Toronto - Great Gulf's newest condominium unveiled

TORONTO, March 25 /CNW/ - Today, David Gerofsky, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, unveiled the details of One Bloor - Great Gulf's flagship 65-storey condominium to be located on the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor Streets in Toronto. This new address situated at the gateway to Bloor-Yorkville has been designed by a world-renowned team comprised of Hariri Pontarini Architects, Cecconi Simone Inc., and Janet Rosenberg + Associates, landscape architect and urban design, with construction by Tucker Hi-Rise Construction Inc. and sales by Baker Real Estate Incorporated. One Bloor will include 690 suites and a proposed 100,000 sq. ft. of prime retail space along Yonge and Bloor and on the concourse level, plus year-round contemporary amenities that will create an environment that encompasses wellness, fitness and pampering amid the ultimate urban backdrop.

One Bloor will become the landmark for this major intersection, and residents will benefit from direct access to the two subway lines that converge here. "One Bloor will be a significant addition to Toronto's urban landscape," David Gerofsky said. "Great Gulf is proud to add this condominium to our portfolio, which includes a roster of multi-award-winning buildings that complement their locations with outstanding architecture. One Bloor takes our mandate for leading-edge design to the next level."

The One Bloor design team's shared vision is to offer something different, unique and balanced. According to David Pontarini, Founding Partner, Hariri Pontarini Architects, "Yonge and Bloor is 'centre ice' in terms of Canadian real estate. One Bloor respects the urban fabric of the area with its simple silhouette that is sensuously sculpted with piano curves to evoke a warm modernism that is organic and timeless. The curves carve an undulating silhouette in the window glass along the base of the podium. From there, the residential floors terrace back to soften the impact on the streetscape, and the curves create a continuous visual flow as they rise up the tower. Balconies are configured to maximize views, and suites are infused with natural light from massive windows. Great Gulf has created some of the most striking condominiums in Toronto, and with One Bloor, they have raised the architectural bar once again."

The organic feeling continues in the Cecconi Simone-created amenities situated on the sixth and seventh floors. Anna Simone, Founding Partner, Cecconi Simone Inc., explained, "What we have achieved is beautiful and spectacular. This one-of-a-kind facility has an intimate relationship with the architecture and landscaping. The spa-like space will engage all the senses through the sights, sounds and smells of nature, and invites residents to reach a state of true relaxation. Every inch has been carefully thought through and designed so that the person experiencing the environment feels pampered, while reaching a relaxed state of mind. The transition from indoors to outdoors is seamless, and speaks to people's fantasies and dreams. From the lobby to the common areas and the understated luxury of the suites themselves, this building is true to the five principles of design: scale, proportion, rhythm, harmony and balance."

One Bloor's landscaping creates a vibrant synergy that sings with appeal. "This is a building with real heart and soul," said Janet Rosenberg, Founding Principal, Janet Rosenberg + Associates. "Our landscape plan took inspiration from the sculptural curves and organic lines of the architecture and amenities. On the seventh floor terrace, a body of water weaves through the interior and exterior spaces, connecting both areas physically and rhythmically. We created a vibrant artificial landscape that mimics natural forms. The terrace feels lush and green, complemented with canopy structures for protection from the elements. This, coupled with a curved steel exterior fireplace makes for an environment that residents can enjoy throughout the year. There are few places in Toronto that offer this level of outdoor activity with views of the city."

"One Bloor is one of the most anticipated residential buildings of the decade, and will offer a fabulous opportunity for the most discerning of purchasers," said Barbara Lawlor, President, Baker Real Estate Incorporated. "The architecture is incredible, the amenities are extraordinary, the finishes are exquisite, and Great Gulf's reputation for service and quality is impeccable. And of course, the location is superb. One Bloor is clearly one of the most prestigious addresses in Canada, and we expect an enthusiastic sales response."

"Buyers will also reap the benefits of topnotch construction technology," said Michael McGrath, President, Tucker Hi-Rise Construction Inc. "One example is the Building Information Modeling system that uses state-of-the-art 3D software to seamlessly bridge communication among the architectural, engineering and construction disciplines. Beyond that, Tucker Hi-Rise has added a fourth dimension of time and logistics and a fifth dimension of cost, in order to increase productivity and improve quality even more."

The one-bedroom, one-bedroom + den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom + den designs at One Bloor range in size from 530 to 1,724 sq. ft. and will be priced from $390,000 to over $1,500,000. Monthly maintenance fees are estimated at $0.50 per square foot. First occupancy is slated for December 2014.

One Bloor - This Is Your Fantasy! To register now for the public preview, visit www.onebloor.com.

Visuals Available

    

    FACT SHEET
    March 25, 2010

    Great Gulf is poised to introduce One Bloor, the company's newest
    flagship condominium that will raise the bar for outstanding architecture
    in Toronto.

    The Location

    -   Southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor Streets; the gateway to
        Bloor-Yorkville
    -   An iconic global address steps from high-fashion boutiques and
        designer shops, such as Holt Renfrew, Cartier, Prada, Hermes, Gucci,
        Chanel, and Louis Vuitton
    -   Walk to the Royal Ontario Museum, hundreds of restaurants, cafés,
        services and more
    -   Direct access to both the Bloor and Yonge subway systems

    The Building

    -   Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, One Bloor will rise to 65
        storeys and offer 690 suites
    -   The neighbourhood will benefit from the proposed 100,000 sq. ft. of
        prime retail space
    -   Concourse level shopping will be below grade, and retail in the first
        two storeys of the podium will front along Yonge and Bloor
    -   The next levels of the six-storey podium will offer grand residential
        terraces
    -   The spa-inspired amenities are situated on the sixth and seventh
        floors, with spectacular outdoor amenity terraces on the roof of the
        podium
    -   Balconies are configured to maximize views, and suites are infused
        with natural light from massive windows
    -   24-hour Concierge Service; Resident Superintendent for on-site
        maintenance
    -   Underground parking with security monitored from Concierge station
    -   Visitor parking for cars and bicycles
    -   Custom-designed high-speed elevators

    The Amenities

    -   Over 27,000 sq. ft. of Cecconi Simone-designed resort-inspired
        amenities on the sixth and seventh floors, plus an additional
        19,000 sq. ft of outdoor amenity space on the seventh floor by
        Janet Rosenberg + Associates, landscape architecture and urban design
    -   The sixth floor includes a large spa area with three treatment rooms,
        plus separate his and hers cold plunge, hot plunge, jet massage,
        experience showers, Laconium and Tepidarium steam suites, ice
        fountain and change rooms. On this level, there are also outdoor
        terraces, lounges (one a look-out fireplace lounge), a sculpture
        garden, bar, dining room, caterers' kitchen, and a billiards room
    -   The seventh floor amenities area will have two pools: a year-round
        indoor/outdoor pool and an outdoor pool, beautifully landscaped
        outdoor terraces with fireplaces, spa/hot tub, foot baths,
        state-of-the-art fully equipped fitness cardio rooms, kinesis/Pilates
        room, yoga/spinning room, steam rooms, change rooms, plus carefully
        crafted relaxation areas

    The Suites

    Features and finishes will be available in Silver (floors 8 to 38),
    Gold (floors 39 to 59) and Platinum (floors 60 to 65)

    -   One-bedroom, one-bedroom + den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom + den
        designs from 530 to 1,727 sq. ft.
    -   Luxurious Silver appointments include approximately 9-foot ceilings;
        pre-engineered hardwood flooring throughout; gourmet kitchens with
        27" Blomberg stainless steel fridge, 30" black ceramic glass
        cook-top, built-in 30" stainless steel oven, built-in stainless steel
        microwave, 30" slide-out hood fan, Cecconi Simone-designed cabinetry
        (all drawers with soft close drawer system), pull-out two-bin recycle
        system, choice of granite or Corian(R) countertop, single-bowl
        stainless steel under-mount sink with contemporary polished chrome
        faucet, porcelain tile backsplash, Cecconi Simone-designed island
        with display niche, prep area in granite or Corian(R) and Corian(R)
        eating table with an integrated trough for ice, candles or growing
        herbs; ceiling-mounted track lighting complete with pendants over
        island (as per plan), stacked brand-name 24" white washer/dryer;
        master/main bathrooms with Cecconi Simone custom-designed cabinetry
        and custom-designed Corian(R) sink with polished chrome wall-mounted
        faucet; and unique mirrored wall cabinet above vanity; white soaker
        tub (as per plan); polished chrome accessory package; frameless glass
        shower enclosure (as per plan); emergency voice communication system,
        smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detector; future technology-ready
        high-speed Internet access; rough-in for future suite security; and
        pre-wired for cable, TV and telephones (as per plan)
    -   Among the Gold and Platinum added features and finishes are solar
        screen window coverings in kitchen, dining, living areas (as per
        plan); blackout screens in master and second bedroom (as per plan);
        Sub Zero 27" fully integrated fridge/freezer, Wolf 30" glass
        cook-top; Wolf 30" built-in stainless steel self-clean convection
        oven; Asko fully-integrated dishwasher with stainless steel interior;
        Sub Zero 24" built-in 46-bottle wine fridge with glass door;
        Sub Zero 24" built-in fully integrated under-counter bar
        fridge/freezer; upgraded pre-engineered hardwood flooring throughout,
        stone/glass backsplash; main bath porcelain floor tiles or choice of
        marble floor tiles; rough-in for future window covering automation;
        and Introductory Home Automation System

    The Team

    -   Builder-Developer: Great Gulf
    -   Architects: Hariri Pontarini Architects
    -   Interior Design: Cecconi Simone Inc.
    -   Landscaping: Janet Rosenberg + Associates, landscape architecture and
        urban design

    For Information

    -   Register now for the public preview at www.onebloor.com
    -   For an overview of Great Gulf's communities, visit
        www.greatgulfhomes.com

    

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