The Massey Tower

The Massey Tower, an upcoming 60-storey condominium in Downtown Toronto, takes its name and interior-design inspiration from Massey Hall of 1894, one of Toronto's premier live-music venues. The project’s sales centre is housed within the adjacent Canadian Bank of Commerce building of 1905, a designated landmark to be restored and integrated into the base of the planned high-rise.

The 432 m² sales centre harmonizes period and contemporary design, preserving original interior elements in situ while extending them with new ones. This sensitive intervention maintains the former bank’s historic integrity while relating it to its present-day function as a showroom.

The refurbished heritage entry – with original mosaics and mouldings – is elaborated with newly-installed cocoon-like pendant lights and a custom, cold-rolled steel and antique-mirror reception desk.

The expansive main gallery, accessed through a portal of velvet swag drapes, is organized into functional zones without partitions. Instead, closing and seating areas and scale model are delineated with traditionally-inspired custom mouldings, digitally-generated trompe-l’oeil custom wall-panels, custom furnishings and an elaborate mosaic in-the-round, uncovered during the showroom’s construction. Each of these elements will be re-mounted / re-used within the future residence.

The 60 m² model – an actual suite layout with some upgrades – features a thoroughly-modern living environment fused with traditional motifs. Contemporary, custom millwork is subtly ornamented with applied decoration. Custom furniture is antique in silhouette yet simplified for an updated appearance. Seemingly incongruent design details are unified in a subdued palette of finishes, accented with boldly-theatrical flourishes.