The Canadian National Exhibition has come and gone for another year, and with it, the Summer. Many who attended the Ex this year noticed the construction site for Hotel X, prominently rising on the east side of the Exhibition grounds, on a site previously used for both surface parking and midway fun.

Hotel X viewed from the south on Lake Shore Boulevard, image by Craig White

The 406-suite high-rise hotel is being developed by Exhibition Place and The Library Hotel Collection, and built by Brookfield Multiplex. Designed by NORR Architects with New York-based Stephen B Jacobs Group, the 29-storey hotel is quickly rising from the south of Princes Boulevard along the west side of Newfoundland Drive, and now on the 9th storey has begun to tower above the surrounding Exhibition grounds. With work now well clear of the 3-storey podium, the repetitive nature of the remaining tower floor plates will allow work to speed along at a rate of around one floor per week.

Construction of Hotel X, image by Craig White

The hotel is being built to add flexibility and new services to the trade show, exhibition, and sports event capabilities of Exhibition Place. Its location south of the Direct Energy Centre and west of the Allstream Centre to which it will be connected by a skybridge will allow those attending and/or running the events more convenience and a larger range of spaces with more specialized functions.

Construction of Hotel X, image by Craig White

The side of the hotel to face Princes Boulevard will include a 71,000 square foot sports facility featuring a weights/cardio/physical therapy centre, a yoga/dance/Pilates centre, 10 squash courts including 2 American doubles courts, and 4 indoor tennis courts. 

Construction of Hotel X, image by Craig White

The complex will also feature meeting facilities, ballrooms, a 'Cinematech' with 294-seat 3D-capable cinema aimed at the city's film industry and art cinema scene, retail shops, and several restaurants including a rooftop bar and restaurant with panoramic views of the city skyline, Toronto Islands, and Lake Ontario.

Check out our dataBase file for Hotel X, linked below, for additional details and renderings. Want to get involved in the discussion? Choose the associated Forum thread link, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.