# Mirvish+Gehry and the story of 4 heritage buildings

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2013-12-07

architect, architecture, david-mirvish, design, development-proposal, entertainment-district, frank-gehry, globe-and-mail, heritage, heritage-buildings, king-street-west, ontario-heritage-act, preservation, progress, starchitect, toronto, uncategorized

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I am a real estate developer and I believe in progress. But I also fundamentally believe in [balancing progress and preservation](http://brandondonnelly.com/post/65442737541/balancing-progress). I’ve said this before.

This morning, [Alex Bozikovic](https://twitter.com/alexbozikovic) of the Globe and Mail, published a piece on the epic [Mirvish + Gehry proposal](http://mirvishandgehrytoronto.com/) for Toronto’s Entertainment District. It’s called, “[Frank Gehry and David Mirvish’s tall order in Toronto.](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/frank-gehry-and-david-mirvishs-tall-order-in-toronto/article15809360/?page=all)”

Now, I’ve said before that I like this project. I don’t mind the height and I don’t buy the argument that there aren’t enough public spaces in the area. There’s [David Pecaut Square](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecaut_Square) directly to the south that could use a few more warm bodies in it.

But as [I also said before](http://brandondonnelly.com/post/63129631457/mirvish-gehry), I think the key concern here is one of heritage. There are 4 heritage designated buildings on the site dating back to as early as 1901. Here’s where they sit:

The Anderson Building (1915) is particularly unique. Here’s a larger photo ([via blogTO](http://www.blogto.com/city/2012/10/a_brief_history_of_the_princess_of_wales_theatre_block/)):

So while I’m excited by the prospect of a _real_ Gehry project in Toronto, I think we need to figure out a way to find a balance. Preserve the facades, build on top, or relocate them. Do something besides wipe the slate clean.

As Bozikovic rightly points out in his article, “_Toronto has a sophisticated culture of working with heritage buildings_.” There are lots of great examples of how we managed to move forward as a city, without erasing our past.

And in many ways, I see this ability to work with and build upon heritage buildings as an emerging Toronto vernacular. I mean, what could be more appropriate for the most diverse city on the planet than an architectural style–of our own–that blends and layers history with disparate design ideologies.

I sense an opportunity.

We could have Gehry’s white sinuous curves drape over the heritage buildings. Make them become a literal unveiling of Toronto’s past and a metaphor for the sophisticated way in which we build upon legacy.

It’s too easy to just demolish everything. We’re better than that.

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/mirvishgehry-and-the-story-of-4-heritage-buildings)*