Today, Caesars Entertainment and Rock Gaming released an early set of renderings which depict the companys' vision for a casino at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). Oxford Properties announced the controversial project two weeks ago with an intial ingredient list of a pair of mixed use, office and residential structures and a twin-tower hotel, all anchored to a podium containing retail uses and a casino. Oxford also released the name of its architect, celebrated British designer and Pritzker Prize laureate Norman Foster. UrbanToronto later broke the news that the office and residential towers would top 326 meters or 1,070 feet, making them Toronto's first 'supertalls' according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Foster + Partners and Oxford Properties Initial Vision for the Redevelopment of the MTCC

Caesar's has now released two new renderings, neither authored by Foster's office. The first depicts how a casino might look if sited at the corner of Blue Jays Way and Front Street.

Caesars International vision for a casino at the corner of Blue Jays Way and Front Street

The second illustrates what the track-bridging park might look like.

The track-bridging park which will lie to the south of the MTCC complex

Ceasar's Executive Vice President of Communications and Government Relations, Jan Jones said of his company's vision: "[the project] focuses on a gaming entertainment complex that will serve as another world-class tourism anchor while complementing the City's pedestrian-focused layout and leveraging its robust public transit system. We believe that the convention centre site provides a prime opportunity to achieve these important goals."

Mr. Jones also noted that these renderings are merely: "working concepts based on initial input from City leaders, local stakeholders and area businesses." He also indicated that the MTCC site is not the only potential location and that Ceasar's: "...looks forward to engaging several local and international architects to further develop concepts for this and other potential online casino sites in downtown Toronto."

For more information about Oxford Place, check out UrbanToronto's dataBase listing below. To join in the conversation, select the associated Forum thread link.