Toronto has more high-rise construction than any city in North America, and councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s downtown Ward 27 has among the most in the city. But now, when she walks through her neighbourhood, some of the construction sites are looking a little bit sexier. Wong-Tam recently launched her latest urbanist project, Urban Umbrella, which originated from a New York design competition to beautify construction spaces. By working with developer Great Gulf (which is paying the additional $10,000 for each location) and Ryerson University, aesthetically pleasing scaffolding has been installed at construction sites at 1 Bloor East and the former Sam the Record Man site. Structural engineer Sarrah Khan explained that the high roof creates an airy and open atmosphere and the transparency allows light in to avoid the feeling of being in a tunnel. At night, the space above is enlivened by lights, a small addition to make the short walk feel special. Wong-Tam explained her priorities for the pedestrian realm and how Urban Umbrella works within it: “We want safety, we want walkability, and we want beauty.”
