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By PAUL CARLUCCI
It's a common occurrence, this business of old making way for new. Progress demands it, but that doesn't make it easy. For many, old is a coveted thing, something to be cherished and protected, while new is viral and indiscriminate, festering beneath every heirloom.
Take the ongoing friction over Riverdale Hospital. The building, dubbed the "Half Round" because of its semi-circular shape, is an architectural oddity in Toronto. Built in 1961, it was praised as the "Taj Mahal of bed-care centres" in that era's municipal literature. Seen from the Don Valley parkland to the south, it doubles as a charming invitation to the historical, edificial playground that is the Riverdale site. Tall, mushroom-shaped fixtures give a unique splendour to the entrance. The peculiar installations have become inanimate media darlings, but seldom do they receive more accolades than does the lobby's glass mosaic, a colourful guide leading visitors around the building's core to its hidden elevators.
"It's a perfect modern statement," says Steve Russell, vice-president of the Toronto Architectural Conservancy. "The entrance is gorgeous. It's a wonderful interior, replete with colour and it's very un-institutional."
But it's slated for demolition, the old in this case ushered out by Bridgepoint Health, who leases much of the surrounding area from the city. "Our building is completely below standard, very significantly, in every single way," says Marian Walsh, president and CEO of Bridgepoint. "As this goes on, our capacity to meet the needs of people gets more compromised."
Rooms are overcrowded. Medical gasses aren't piped in, and staff carry oxygen tanks to the needy. There's only one bathtub in the entire complex, which beds around 500 patients. There's one bathroom stall for every 50 patients, and none of the rooms is outfitted with private facilities. And the air exchange system is abysmal. "It has to go," Walsh says.
Bridgepoint's proposal to tear down the Half Round and make changes throughout the mixed-ownership site will be put to council for a final vote on Jan. 17. The plan recently picked up a few amendments from Councillor Paula Fletcher during East York Community Council, one of them requiring Bridgepoint to keep the mushrooms and mosaic and incorporate them back into the new landscape.
"I think that's irrelevant," Russell says. "To take those things out of the situation renders them mere artifacts. It's no longer architecture. It's no longer part of the idea that made it all happen. As splendid as the detailing is, the important thing is the building."
Russell has no doubts that council will vote to raze the Half Round. The heritage status of the Don Jail, located just behind the hospital, took priority for city staff. He's relieved in a way; saving buildings is a thankless, uphill toil.
"There's more to heritage than just buildings," Walsh offers. "We've been here providing public healthcare services from this site for over 150 years."
Riverdale ripe for condo conversion: Globe and Mail, June 17th, 2005.
Critique of the meeting: Globe and Mail, July 9th, 2005.
Argument for demolition of Riverdale: bad plumbing?: National Post, Nov 11th, 2005.
Demolition of significant modern buildings picks up momentum: Globe and Mail, Nov. 26th, 2005.
Debate swirls around hospital's fate at Council meeting.: National Post, Jan. 18th, 2006
Riverdale Hospital for wrecking?: Star, Jan. 25th, 2006
Keep historic half-round around as it is: Star, Jan. 26th, 2006.
Demolition plan roundly criticized: National Post, Feb. 2nd, 2006.
Development arguments wanting for logic: Now, Feb. 9, 2006.
Demolition is environmentally unconscienable: National Post, Feb. 17th, 2006.
Locals want to know: Why give land away?: National Post, March 11th, 2006.
Citizens catch Bridgepoint hi-jinx: Now, March 16th, 2006.
Progressives on Council fumble the Bridgepoint
scheme: Now, March 23rd,
2006.
Save Riverdale
Toronto Architectural Conservancy
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