The Reimagined Addition to The Existing Drake Hotel Honours The Original Essence

The reimagined addition to the existing Drake Hotel honours the original essence and character in a way that not only preserves it well but amplifies it. Spanning across two buildings, the hotel lobby brings together all elements onto the ground plane, which become an extension of the sidewalk. The white façade of the new wing is a palimpsest that traces the Victorian era of Queen Street West.

Seamlessly sliding into the unique urban fabric of Queen Street West, the Drake Modern Wing is a perfect example of visual integration achieved by respecting the cultural and visual context of its site. This project expresses details that reveal themselves over time. With careful observation, the complex relationship between the new and the old becomes apparent through massing, materiality, and datum. The Jury specifically noted how hard it was to differentiate the “modern wing” as an addition at all.

Project Information 

Architect: Diamond Schmitt Landscape 

Architect: Alexander Budrevics + Associates 

Structural Engineer: Blackwell 

Interior: DesignAgency, +tongtong & The Drake’s in-house team 

Mechanical and Electrical: BK Consulting

Sustainability: Footprint

Developer/Owner/Client: The Drake Hotel

Photographer: doublespace photography

Artists: Rotating