College Park gets sculptured borealis glow
Artist delivers finishing touch with glass, steel, LED lights
Excerpt of an article by Shelly Sanders Greer - Toronto Star
Bay Street has acquired a new subtle glow that may remind some of the Northern Lights. A new glass and stainless steel sculpture with digital lighting, created by an award-winning Canadian artist, is part of a new luxury condominium just south of College St.
While developers from Canderel Stoneridge Equity Group and Tricon Capital Group Inc. were planning The Residences of College Park, they realized the height of the two future towers would make them city landmarks. The first phase, which is now built, is 51 storeys and the second phase, which will be ready for occupancy at the end of 2007, will be 45.
“The developers suggested a theme of Northern Lights,” says Powning, who has been named the 30th recipient of the Saidye Bronfman Award for excellence in the crafts for 2006. “When the second tower is complete, the second sculpture will be unveiled and the pair will be mirrored reverse spirals. The two will look alike but there will be subtle differences. When we have both going they will relate visually and the lighting effects will have rapport.”The piece is an elegant vessel for light spirals. I’ve used LED lights and there are programmed scripts that light the sculptures day and night,” he says. “There is a simple elegance and the pieces tend to nod in the art nouveau direction. The recycled glass looks like ice to me, which again, is a Northern Lights reference.”
Powning’s new sculpture is at 763 Bay St.To learn more about Peter Powning and his work, visit http://www.powning.com.
Although the first phase of The Residences of College Park is sold out, there are two penthouses remaining in the second phase, which is now under construction. Both of these are three bedrooms and are available for occupancy in March 2008. Purchasers can still choose their finishings. One is 1,645 square feet and costs $799,900, and the other one is 2,370 square feet with a pricetag of $1.21 million.
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