West Side Lofts: Toronto's New Hip Green Paradise
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 06. 8.06
Here's good news for any TreeHuggers in Toronto considering some new digs: West Side Lofts are being built this year, and they'll be LEED-certified when they're up. Construction is set to begin in November on the 11-story project that will include 216 units; a second phase of the project will add another 134 lofts to the emerging neighborhood south of Queen St. W. All of the lofts will have balconies or terraces, 10-foot ceilings, exposed ductwork and exposed concrete ceilings and floors, translucent sliding-glass room partitions, six appliances, custom kitchen with halogen track lighting and cabinetry available in a range of coloured finishes, stone countertops in a selection of marbles and granites and a bathroom with contemporary vessel sink and soaker tub. Buyers can customize with finishes like cork flooring, hardwood, and stainless steel countertops. Further amenities include a yoga and pilates studio and roof garden. Hip, green and modern all together -- sounds like a TreeHugger paradise. ::West Side Lofts via ::Hugg
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Halogen track lighting? How is that LEED compatible?
and i thought granite has some issues with radioactivity? right? i mean environmental protection i think includes the protection of humans...
Like most mined natural building materials granite is mildly radioactive. It's not an issue if don't grind it up and ingest it all your life.
Also, as an HVAC professional working in Toronto, I doubt this building will be any better than the dreck that's going up every day here.
Developers will splash 'green' all over a site, do some obligatory LEED point-chasing, then cram in the same inefficient, mechanical systems they cram into every new building. Seriously, I've compared the drawings for brand new condos with hi-rises from the 70's and nothing is changing. We've got a new and pretty veneer over the same junk construction that we've always had, and allways will have until the building code gets serious, but that's another story.
I'll have to agree with MisterHVAC. What exactly is so green about this building? The fact that the builder 'registered' with the CGBC? Any urban building with bicycle parking can get LEED points; that does not make it green. But I suppose it's a good start that these developers at least take the time for a little greenwashing.
Intéressant!
That's really great info, thanks for sharing.
Does anyone know what premium does green add to the value of your unit.