Toronto Motorsports Park VIP Building
Toronto, Ontario
This building will accommodate Corporate and VIP events for car manufacturers, companies and groups that host events at TMP, Canada’s premiers road course and drag strip. Whether their goal is to entertain, hold a conference, host a media day, test or launch a new vehicle, this will be their base and provide a high-quality experience for guests.
The design concept is a sleek, automotive-inspired dynamic glass form, with angular lines and dramatic prow-shaped cantilevers at each end over a solid brick base. The west end cants out as a covered porch and the east extends into a large projecting viewing balcony with it’s a sculptural splayed support and exterior stair.
The VIP level is a dramatic glass box on the second floor to provide views out over the racetrack and infield. The main floor provides sophisticated specialty service bays with glass doors for visibility with each defined by supergraphic numbers, ‘racing stripe’ masonry and accent lighting. Each are one floor high under the VIP area and double height in the rear, allowing windows looking down into the service bays from the VIP Lounge above and hoisted cars to be visible inside the VIP area.
A glass lobby at the east end of the building has a spiral, helix feature stair to the second floor and a large elevator to allow vehicle movement up. The VIP Lounge is shown with a two storey high glass wall overlooking the track, and a wood roof for warmth. The angled glass stops glare similar to airport control towers, reducing the need for blinds. The west end viewing lounge with its panoramic views is anchored by a large bar, while a food bar, kitchen and service spaces are in the centre
The building plan kinks to avoid the stasis of a straight bar, instead creating spatial drama and with the exterior viewing deck wrapping around the focal forecourt where vehicles are parked and displayed, and creating a strong ‘sense of place’ there, like a piazza or town square, which will be the heart of the race track for socializing and car viewing.