tall-buildings

Regardless of stylistic approach, the design and placement of all
tall buildings should make a positive contribution to the public
realm, fit harmoniously within the surrounding context and skyline,
and be consistent with the following:
• slender point towers, rising above well-proportioned
and articulated base buildings, with a strong relationship
to the existing context and adjacent public realm, are
preferred;
• avoid free-standing towers without bases or a direct
relationship to the street, e.g. “towers in a park;”
• avoid big, boxy, dominant massing, and large, elongated,
or slab-like floor plates;
• embrace design creativity and variation in built form and
architectural expression, including variation in tower
shape, orientation, and the design of each façade for the
purpose of visual interest and sustainability; and
• be innovative, but also appropriate in the choice of
materials and construction methods, to make a longterm,
sustainable, high-value contribution to city
building.
AVOID
Avoid free-standing
towers without base
buildings or a direct
relationship to
adjacent streets
Figure 1: Free-standing towers disrupt the pedestrian-oriented scale, character,
and vitality of the street.
AVOID
Avoid big boxy,
dominant massing and
slab-like tower form
Figure 2: Large, elongated floor plates cast long shadows and create an
inappropriate scale at street level.
INTRODUCTION | TALL BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES
Official Plan Reference
3.1.3 Built Form – Tall Buildings: Policy 1
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