Futuristic towers to replace nightclub and abandoned cinema in Vaughan

Windobi.com
August 3, 2022

A development proposal calling for the replacement of a disused movie theater and nightclub in Vaughan would add some bold new landmarks to the city’s burgeoning center, a change representative of the inner--905 shift from suburban towards an extension of the big city connected by public transport. city.

The plan is part of Menkes Developments’ massive vision for the southern Vaughan Metropolitan Center, or VMC South. Block 6 east of the community would occupy an entire city block extending north of Interchange Way, just east of Highway 400.

The site is currently home to a handful of buildings, including a large structure that used to be home to one of the few locations of AMC Theaters until 2014. The building to the west still houses Luxy nightclub, a bastion of 905 bro culture

Menkes plans to tear everything down to build a modern residential complex with nearly 1,950 new homes, shops and public spaces on the ground floor.

Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects and Giannone Petricone Associates, the development would add five towers of varying shapes and exterior treatments to Vaughan’s burgeoning skyline, spanning 46, 40, 30, 14 and 15 stories.

More than 4,000 square meters (nearly 44,000 square feet) of the complex base would be devoted to retail space, while the towers above are proposed to contain a total of 1,945 residential units.

The buildings are positioned around a central plaza that functions as a private public space of over 4,500 square meters. On the south side, the square branches off into a pair of footpaths etched between the tower bases.

The northern end of the plaza connects to a pedestrianized meadow that will be built into the development directly to the north, part of the area’s comprehensive public space master plan.

On the eastern side, the square adjoins a park of more than 5,500 square meters that occupies the northeast quadrant of the site, forming a continuous public space with a generous size of approximately 10,000 square meters.

30 interchange road vaughanIt can be challenging for suburban master--planned communities on vast tracts of land to feel like a natural advancement in a city’s organic growth, but the range of design styles and spacious public space showcased in renderings would could be an interesting addition to both the local skyline and pedestrian experience.

Meanwhile, Menkes is making good use of the space, which currently houses a temporary park and festival space known as Assembly Park.