Doors Open Toronto 2012: Our Picks from #DOT12 Buildings List

Timeline: 1812 - 2012: 13th annual Doors Open Toronto 2012
200 Years of Building Our City
In commemoration of the War of 1812 Bicentennial
Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27, 2012
More than 135 architecturally, historically, culturally
and socially significant buildings will open their doors for
the weekend and highlight the people who built our city. All for free!
Explore city building and city builders!
Credit: City of Toronto: 2012 Doors Open Toronto

"May the Doors always be open."
- Christopher Hume, Toronto Star, 2011

Doors Open Toronto is back, this time celebrating 200 years of Toronto City History. There are some amazing buildings to be visited, from historical to modern.

Last year we visited the Humber Arboretum Centre for Urban Ecology, an example and showcase how green building systems can work together to form a great space and at the same time show how we can reduce our ecological foot print. We loved our visit there and we highly recommend visiting the Centre.

One of my favourite past-times is looking at buildings and as usual Door Open Toronto is a bit of a Busman’s holiday. With Peapod Life, our integrated indoor garden living space, gathering steam, we are concentrating our visits to the buildings with green designs.

This year’s candidates:

Artscape Wychwood Barns
Architect and year: Unknown, 1913
Subsequent architect(s)/ consultant(s): Joe Lobko at du Toit Architects Ltd./Artscape 2007

This building is close to the office and we have attended a few community events there before. We can highly recommend visiting it.

Corus Quay
Architect and year: Diamond and Schmitt Architects, 2007
Subsequent architect(s)/ consultant(s): The interior of Corus Quay was outfitted by Quadrangle Architects Ltd.

Loved my visit there last year at a networking event. Amazing building with great green design.

Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative and Mountain Equipment Co-op

These buildings have a green roof initiatives which we would like to check out.

Karma Co-operative, Inc. - NEW!

The architectural interest is the 100 year old building the co-operative is being housed in, but as Peapod Life is also a food initiative, we would love to talk to the Karma Food Co-operative about their views and philosophies.

Toronto Botanical Garden

Plants, of course we love plants, but this building is interesting as it renovations in 2005 won it its silver LEED awards.

We will report back on our findings after the Doors Open weekend.

Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build