- At main entrance to 401 Richmond Street West.
- Photo: © Torie Gervais
In the dense, manufactured world of downtown Toronto, vines are a creative way to “green” small spaces. Covering the outside of this heritage building is nature’s original “vertical” garden, a thriving layer of Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata). Their gnarled woody stems are evidence that these vines have been growing here for decades and may, in fact, be the oldest living thing in the area. With the building as support, they have grown 50 to 60 feet high. In fall, their leaves are most spectacular, turning brilliant shades of red, orange and scarlet. Vines also provide energy benefits by shading bricks from summer sun and breaking up cold winter winds. This dense green “coat” hides a century-old warehouse that once housed the Macdonald Manufacturing Company, the finest lithographers of tin ware in Canada.
The underutilized building was purchased in 1994 by the Urbanspace Property Group who transformed it into a thriving and affordable downtown workspace. Using synergistic ideologies and green technologies, they have attracted a vibrant mix of creative tenants. The building was the recipient of a 1999 Award of Merit from Toronto Heritage for outstanding adaptive re-use of a historic building.
- Next stop: Green space for little sprouts
- Return to map of: Green Roofs and Trees
Funding for the program is generously provided by:
