tall-buildings

MIDDLE (TOWER) } TALL BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES
3.2.3 SEPARATION DISTANCES CONT.
AVOID
Adequate minimum separation
distance between buildings
(25m or greater) promotes
privacy, daylighting and at-grade
access to sunlight and sky view
Figure 5: Adequate minimum
tower separation distances,
measured from closest building
face to building face, protect
access to sunlight and sky view
for the surrounding public realm
and neighbouring properties, and
improve privacy and daylighting
within tall buildings.
Towers with inadequate
minimum separation distance
(less than 25m)
Variation in tower
stepbacks and orientation
increase perceived and
actual separation distance
RATIONALE cont.
Where a new tall building is proposed adjacent to an existing
tall building or a potential tall building development site,
matters of sunlight, sky view, privacy, and daylighting become
even more critical since the cumulative effect of a cluster of
towers on a street, park, open space, or in relation to each
other and neighbours can amplify quality of life concerns for
both the public and private realms. Even if tall buildings in close
proximity to other tall buildings meet the minimum required
separation distances, setbacks, and stepbacks, towers should
be further shaped, placed, and articulated to increase the actual
and perceived distances between adjacent building elevations.
Since tall building development is typically evaluated on a
site-by-site basis, it is important to understand the cumulative
effect of the proposed tall building within the context of other
tall buildings (see also 1.1 Context Analysis). One test for the
appropriateness of proposed tower setbacks and separation
distances is to replicate the proposal on adjacent sites or
blocks. The cumulative effect should result in acceptable
outcomes for shadowing, access to sky view, privacy, and
daylighting (see also 1.4 Sunlight and Sky View).
If towers are permitted to locate too close to side or rear
property lines, the result is a “first-to-the-post” development
scenario, whereby the need to provide access to sunlight, sky
view, privacy, and daylighting, may restrict adjacent sites from
developing in a similar manner.
CITY OF TORONTO
MAY 2013
Official Plan Reference
2.3.1 Healthy Neighbourhoods: Policy 2c | 3.1.2 Built Form: Policy 3c, 3d, 3e and 4 | 3.1.3 Built Form - Tall Buildings: Policy 1b
Related Standards, Guidelines & Studies
Sun, Wind and Pedestrian Comfort: A Study of Toronto’s Central Area
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