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A rash of new hotels in Toronto over the last couple of years has brought more competition and increasing sophistication to the accommodations and event markets here in Toronto. Anyone else in the business has to consider what they are offering, and moves are being made in established properties to up their game.
Coming this fall, the hotel and residences at One King West will be adding something new to their offerings: a 2,500 sq ft Hospitality Suite, and a new Executive Centre. While the site is still in a rough-stage at this point, Matt Black graciously gave UrbanToronto a quick tour of what to expect!
One King West, located in the heart of the Financial District and steps away from the King Subway station, is a condo hotel that operates inside a former Dominion Bank building that was built in 1914. The building was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1990, with a modern 51 storey tower built on top of the historical building—dubbed 'The Sliver'—being added in 2006. The addition made it one of the tallest buildings in Toronto at 578 metres in height. The original 12-storey building was designed by the architectural firm Pearson and Darling. Over the years, the firm would change names several times, eventually becoming known as Stanford Downey Architects. The firm would go on to design 'The Sliver', linking the historical design set by their predecesors almost a century later.
Situated on the 14th and 15th floors of One King West, the new suite and meeting room straddle the border between the historical Dominion Bank building, and the Sliver tower. The Executive Centre, which is referred to as 'Fourteen Hundred', unsurprisingly is on the 14th floor and is expected to hold 30 to 40 guests. Above it, the Hospitality Suite 'Fifteen Hundred' is on the 15th floor, and has been designed as a luxurious space that can hold approximately 60 guests. The two suites have the ability to connect to each other, if desired.
The Executive Centre feels like it will be a good fit for One King West's neighbours. Aside from the financial firms that the area is known for, there are also plenty of law firms and corporate headquarters in the area. Black says they were inspired to create this space by examining similar offerings across the city: “We went to a number of our major clients, such as the law firms and bank firms, and asked ‘What do they need?’”
The space will have the flexibility to hold a variety of different events, from meetings, dinners, product launches, presentations, to movie screenings. The Executive Centre will be the first of its kind for One King West. It's poised to offer something new to the clients that may already use the hotel for business. The space will include a servery and bathrooms, and will be wheelchair accessible.
While there were some major details such as lighting and the audio/video infrastructure, Black says that one of their big focuses is on the tiny details, such as dampening building noises and ensuring the even the furniture does not act as a distraction. He mentions how in one space they examined for inspiration, the legs of the chairs had a habit of tripping guests due to their design, a mistake One King West won't make. “We want people to focus on what’s important: good sound, good usable space, and… good chairs.”
Designed by Squarefoot Design Inc., the Hospitality Suite is approximately 2,500 sq ft in size including the outdoor terrace, or about three times the size of your typical hotel room at One King West. The suite connects to a one-bedroom unit with its own private washroom, although the suite and bedroom may be rented seperately, allowing the space to be used for a function outside of the typical hotel use.
The Hospitality Suite is attempting to create a luxurious oasis for its users. The huge entertainment space in the unit features a kitchen, bar, a fireplace, and an impressive audio/video system. Black says his favorite feature of the Hospitality Suite is the NanaWall, a glass wall that will be able to slide away to open up the space directly to the outdoor terrace: “I don’t know of any other suite that will offer such a connection to an urban space.” The terrace overlooks the corner of Yonge and Melinda (south of King), offering a view either up the Yonge Street corridor, or a view south overlooking the St. Lawrence neighbourhood and waterfront.
Black expects that the hospitality suite will be used primarily by "A-list talent”, particularly during events such as the Toronto International Film Festival. The hospitality suite and executive centre is also expected to be popular for weddings, adding something more modern to One King West’s more historical wedding venues. Black said that while using the suite for a wedding would be more of a ‘niche’ use, he’s had several inquiries already.
Construction on both the hospitality suite and the executive centre is expected to be completed in late July. One King West is currently taking bookings for the new offerings as of September 1st.
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