tall-buildings

MIDDLE (TOWER) } TALL BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES
3.2.3 SEPARATION DISTANCES
Setback tall building towers 12.5 metres or greater from the side and rear
property lines or centre line of an abutting lane.
Provide separation distance between towers on the same site of 25 metres
or greater, measured from the exterior wall of the buildings, excluding
balconies.
a. Where the existing context is characterized by tower
separation distances greater than 25 metres, provide tower
setbacks and separation distances in keeping with the more
generous spacing established by the context (see Figure 3).
b. Where taller buildings or larger tower floor plates are
proposed (see also 3.2.1 Floor Plate Size and Shape), provide
greater setbacks and separation distances proportionate to
increases in building size and height (see Figure 2). For larger
floor plates, use the widest dimension of the tower floor
plate as a guide to determine adequate tower setbacks and
separation (see Figure 4).
c. Sites that cannot provide the minimum tower setbacks and
stepbacks, as required above and in 3.2.2 Tower Placement,
may not be appropriate for tall buildings (see Implementation
of Tower Separation Distances: Small Sites on page 51).
d. Sites that cannot provide the minimum tower separation
distance of 25 metres or greater in relation to the context as
outlined in 3.2.3a., may not be appropriate for multiple towers.
e. Coordinate tower setbacks and separation distances with other
towers on the same block and adjacent blocks to maximize
access to sunlight and sky view for surrounding streets, parks,
open space, and properties (see 1.4 Sunlight and Sky View
and 3.2.2 Tower Placement).
25m or greater*
*greater than 25 metres, particularly when dictated by Zoning By-law or the existing or planned context.
Figure 1: Minimum tower separation distance measured from building face to building face.
greater than
25 m
25 m 25 m
CITY OF TORONTO
MAY 2013
f. Where possible, apply creative solutions, such as offset
towers/views, non-parallel walls, tapering or curved tower
forms, to increase actual or perceived tower separation
distances, provided that access to sky view is maintained and
adverse wind and shadow conditions are minimized.
Figure 2: Minimum tower separation distance increases with building height.
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