tall-buildings

TOWER TOP | TALL BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES
3.3 TOWER TOP
Design the top of tall buildings to make an appropriate contribution to the
quality and character of the city skyline.
Balance the use of decorative lighting with energy efficiency objectives, the
protection of migratory birds, and the management of artificial sky glow.
a. Integrate roof-top mechanical or telecommunications
equipment, signage, and amenity space, where
appropriate, into the design and massing of the upper
floors of the tall building.
b. Where decorative lighting is included within the tower
design, use energy efficient fixtures (such as LEDs), avoid
uplighting and overlighting, and include programmable
fixtures which can dim as the evening progresses or turn
off during migratory seasons.
RATIONALE
An appropriate design for the top of a tall building is influenced
by many factors, which may include location, height, built form
composition, architectural expression, and overall ‘fit’ within the
existing context of the city skyline.
Most tall buildings form part of the urban backdrop which
frames existing landmarks and public open space. In these
instances, the top should reinforce the supporting role of the
building and subtly integrate with the overall tower design.
A small number of tall buildings, such as those terminating
a view or those with significant height, may benefit from a
signature tower top to strengthen the tall building identity as a
landmark for orientation in the city.
In all instances, roof-top mechanical and telecommunications
equipment, as well as signage must be well-integrated into
the total building design to avoid detracting from the form and
elegance of the top.
Figure 1: Subtle variation in massing and integrated signage enhance the tower top.
In the same manner that not all tower tops warrant a signature
feature, not all tops require decorative lighting. When decorative
lighting for the tower top or other key architectural features is
included to enhance the design and presence of a tall building
at night, lighting does not have to be turned on for all hours of
the night or all days of the year to be effective. Furthermore,
illumination should respond to environmental sustainability
objectives and be:
• energy efficient
• designed to minimize glare, light trespass, and sky glow
CITY OF TORONTO
MAY 2013
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Figure 2: Energy efficient decorative lighting makes an interesting contribution to the
appearance of tall buildings in night sky.
Official Plan Reference
3.1.3 Built Form - Tall Buildings: Policy 1c and 2b | 3.4 The Natural
Environment: Policy 18e | 5.1.3 Site Plan Control: Policy 3g
• programmed to turn off during the migratory seasons
(April to May and mid-August to mid-October).
Related Standards, Guidelines & Studies
Toronto Green Standard | Bird-Friendly Development
Guidelines