L Tower

{{Short description|Residential skyscraper in Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}

{{Infobox building

| name = L Tower

| status = Complete

| image = L-Tower-2025-04-13.jpg

| location = 8 The Esplanade
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| coordinates = {{coord|43|38|47|N|79|22|35|W|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}

| completion_date = 2016

| architect = Daniel Libeskind

| floor_area =

| cost = CAD $235 million

| top_floor =

| floor_count = 58

| references = {{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1151551 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306081430/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1151551 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=6 March 2016 |title=Emporis building ID 1151551 |work=Emporis}}

| building_type = Residential

| antenna_spire =

| roof = {{convert|205|m|ft}}{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/create.php?search=yes&page=0&type_building=on&type_tower=on&status_COM=on&status_UC=on&status_UCT=on&list_continent=&list_country=CA&list_city=&list_height=&list_company=&completionsthrough=on&list_year=|title=Canada|publisher=The Skyscraper Center}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| elevator_count =

| developer = Castlepoint Realty Partners Ltd.

| engineer = Smith and Anderson (MEP){{Cite web|url= https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/l-tower/1573 |title=Skyscraper Center}}

| structural_engineer = Jablonsky, Ast and Partners{{Cite web|url= http://astint.on.ca/l-tower-8-the-esplanade/ |title=Jablonsky, Ast and Partners | The Esplanade}}{{Cite web|url= https://libeskind.com/work/l-tower/ |title=Jablonsky, Ast and Partners | L TOWER & SONY CENTRE}}

}}

The L Tower (also known as the Libeskind Tower) is a residential skyscraper in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The project, which broke ground in mid-October 2009, saw many delays. One cause for delay was a stop-work order caused by safety concerns about the crane at the top of the building. The crane was also considered an eyesore by many residents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/l-tower-highrise-crane-construction-delays-1.4821084|title='Why's the stupid crane up there?': L Tower construction delays finally coming to an end|last=Reddekopp|first=Lorenda|date=12 September 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190605172116/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/l-tower-highrise-crane-construction-delays-1.4821084|archive-date=5 June 2019|url-status=live|publisher=CBC News}}{{Cite news|last=Warnica|first=Richard|title=Delays pile up at Toronto's iconic L Tower condo despite six years of construction|date=6 November 2015|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/1106-na-crane|newspaper=National Post|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190605172853/https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/1106-na-crane|url-status=live|accessdate=14 September 2018|archive-date=5 June 2019}} Despite the cranes (which were removed by May 2016 and September 2018 respectively), the building still won the eighth place Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/09/11/crane-atop-the-l-tower-is-finally-removed.html|title=Crane atop the L Tower is finally removed|last=Hauen|first=Jack|date=11 September 2018|work=Toronto Star|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919094401/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/09/11/crane-atop-the-l-tower-is-finally-removed.html|archive-date=19 September 2018|url-status=live|last2=Jones|first2=Alexandra|last3=Marotta|first3=Sefanie}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-30/libeskind-tower-in-toronto-nabs-award-even-with-crane-left-atop|title=Libeskind Tower in Toronto Nabs Award, Even With Crane Left Atop|last=Dmitrieva|first=Katia|date=30 November 2017|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915042448/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-30/libeskind-tower-in-toronto-nabs-award-even-with-crane-left-atop|archive-date=15 September 2018|url-status=live|agency=Bloomberg News}}

In the 2000s, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (then known as the Hummingbird Centre) was expected to be demolished and the land sold. However, Hummingbird Centre CEO Dan Brambilla convinced the city to preserve the site and approve the condo development.{{Cite news|last=Knelman|first=Martin|title=Partnership saves a city landmark and adds a new one|date=26 October 2009|url=https://www.thestar.com/comment/article/715566|newspaper=Toronto Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006045125/https://www.thestar.com/opinion/2009/10/26/partnership_saves_a_city_landmark_and_adds_a_new_one.html|url-status=live|accessdate=26 October 2009|archive-date=6 October 2016}}

Developers

The building is being developed by three builders: Cityzen and Castlepoint Numa of Toronto, and Fernbrook Homes of Concord, Ontario.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/22/safety-concerns-over-crane-holding-up-completion-of-l-tower.html|title=Safety concerns over crane holding up completion of L Tower|last=Robinson|first=Michael|date=22 November 2015|work=Toronto Star|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223040904/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/22/safety-concerns-over-crane-holding-up-completion-of-l-tower.html|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}

Sony Plaza and public art

The Sony Plaza is an open space elevated above the intersection of Yonge and Front streets. It is being designed by Claude Cormier and Associates.{{cite web|url=http://www.claudecormier.com/project/sony-center-for-the-performing-arts/|title=Sony Centre for the Performing Arts|publisher=Claude Cormier}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/10/03/born-again-plaza-to-enhance-sony-centre-knelman.html|title=Born-again plaza to enhance Sony Centre: Knelman|last=Knelman|first=Martin|date=3 October 2015|work=Toronto Star|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027084820/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/10/03/born-again-plaza-to-enhance-sony-centre-knelman.html|archive-date=27 October 2015|url-status=live}}

Canadian artist Harley Valentine is creating a triptych of sculptures to be installed in the Sony Plaza. Called Dream Ballet in hommage to the National Ballet of Canada's four-decade residence at the site, the three sculptures depict abstracted ballet dancers in various dynamic positions.{{Cite web |url=http://harleyvalentine.com/dreamballet.php |title=Dream Ballet |publisher=HV Studio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406232853/http://harleyvalentine.com/dreamballet.php |archivedate=6 April 2013}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/7001386-hamiltonian-s-dream-ballet-statues-to-transform-the-heart-of-toronto/|title=Hamiltonian’s Dream Ballet statues to transform the heart of Toronto|last=Rockingham|first=Graham|date=3 December 2016|work=The Hamilton Spectator|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102215331/https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/7001386-hamiltonian-s-dream-ballet-statues-to-transform-the-heart-of-toronto/|archive-date=2 January 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/visualarts/2016/08/06/meet-harley-valentine-the-man-behind-a-new-toronto-jewel.html|title=Meet Harley Valentine, the man behind a new Toronto jewel|last=Govani|first=Shinan|date=6 August 2016|work=Toronto Star|access-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807145934/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/visualarts/2016/08/06/meet-harley-valentine-the-man-behind-a-new-toronto-jewel.html|archive-date=7 August 2016|url-status=live}}

Award

In 2017, the L Tower was awarded an Emporis Skyscraper Award in the number 8 spot, in the category of best new skyscraper.

Controversies

In June 2015, Ontario's Ministry of Labour began investigating the L Tower's work site due to complaints about its partially assembled crane. A stop-work order was issued, and engineering reports were ordered to confirm the crane was structurally sound before continuing work; due at the end of July, these reports were not provided. The crane's operator resigned after he felt his concerns that the crane could collapse were being ignored by the construction manager, and the business manager of IUOE Local 793 stated: "We don’t believe we should be rolling the dice on a custom-made lifting device over the heads of the good people of Toronto."

In February 2018, former members of a number of condominium boards—including L Tower—were accused of misusing funds, resulting in litigation. Two members of the L Tower's condominium board resigned as a result.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/five-condos-board-toronto-police-darryl-mcgregor-laczko-blanchard-1.4547396|title=Condo owners find out they're on the hook for $750K, sue former board members for $800K|last=Lancaster|first=John|date=23 February 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913163004/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/five-condos-board-toronto-police-darryl-mcgregor-laczko-blanchard-1.4547396|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|publisher=CBC News}}

In July 2021, the crane atop the condo tower collapsed. The crane, a building maintenance unit, with its purpose for window cleaning toppled when its 20,000 lb. counterweight fell.{{Cite web |title=Crane atop Toronto condo collapses after years of issues and complaints |url=https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/07/crane-toronto-condo-collapses-after-years-issues-complaints/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.blogto.com |language=en}} The windows of the L Tower have not been washed ever since, as reported by its residents. Reports said the crash had left significant damage to the Meridian Hall Arts Centre adjacent to the condominium, which was later found to be incorrect.{{Cite web |title=No injuries reported after crane falls onto downtown Toronto condo building {{!}} News |url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/crane-collapse-downton-toronto-condo-building |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en}}