New design for Château Laurier addition changes look, size in bid to satisfy critics
The owner of the Château Laurier revealed a new, glassy design for its proposed addition on Thursday, hoping a scaled-down concept will win over critics.
The eight-storey addition on the north side of the historic hotel would have 171 long-term accommodation suites, compared to the original concept that had 11 and 12 storeys, and 218 suites. The number of parking spots in the proposed five-level underground garage is 370, down from the 385 in the previous design.
The architecture, the creation of Peter Clewes of architects Alliance, has changed significantly from the previous design, made public in 2016. It’s a clear break from the current limestone-and-copper hotel design, but there are elements that pay homage to the old building, such as the rosette pattern in the glass as seen in the ballroom coffered ceilings.
A glass corridor would stretch along the north-facing edge of the addition. An open-air courtyard would allow the hotel to open glass doors into another function space. The new addition would have a green roof.
The new layout has meeting rooms on the ground floor instead of suites.
Art Phillips, the director of development at Larco, said the addition would let the hotel host an event of up to 1,200 people, compared with a maximum of 450 in the current building.
Phillips helped unveil the new design during a briefing at city hall.
David Jeanes, president of volunteer advocacy group Heritage Ottawa, wasn’t ready to commit the organization to an opinion on the new design.
“I think the views of the roofline are going to be considered very important, but I think the important thing is to wait and see how the public reacts to it.”
And Jeanes’ own reaction to the new design?
“That it’s different. That’s the main reaction,” he said.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury, whose ward includes the Château Laurier, said he wants to make sure it has good access, noting that the hotel has been working with the National Capital Commission to address the part near Major’s Hill Park.
“I have concerns around the continued look on the Mackenzie Avenue side. It would be nice if it didn’t hide the park or didn’t hide the Château from each angle,” Fleury said.
Mayor Jim Watson had not yet been briefed on the revised plan.
Public feedback largely panned the first design proposal. The architects went back to the drawing board and filed a new plan at city hall this month.
On Jan. 31, council approved the application to demolish the parking garage, making way for the contemporary addition to the hotel to begin construction in early 2019 if the political approvals fall into place.
The development plan will need approval from the built-heritage subcommittee, planning committee and city council. It might not be until the end of June that Larco has the approvals of council and the committee of adjustment.
Larco is working on assembling a three-dimensional model of the new design to put on display. A public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 28 at city hall.