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The Hilton Toronto Hotel, which has been renovated by Pantar Developments Inc., a company owned by a Maltese immigrant to Canada, Dr David Vella, was included in the busy itinerary of Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea when he visited Toronto recently.
The renovated hotel, its bold lobby in particular, has become one of the architectural landmarks of Toronto and is one of the examples of the celebrated new modernist trend defined as “Toronto Style”.
Minister Galea, who was accompanied by Malta’s Consul General Milo Vassallo, was met at the Hotel by the Chief Architect of the Project, Thomas Payne of the firm KPMB Architects, Dr David Vella and the hotel’s General Manager Armin Schroeker.
Minister Galea was given a tour of the building by architect Payne who expounded on the architectural themes present in the lobby and the hotel. Both Mr Payne and Mr Schroeker spoke very highly of the performance of the Maltese owned company and of their willingness to work with this company in future projects.
The Toronto Hilton is a centrally located downtown Toronto hotel with 600 rooms and convention facilities. The recent renovation stripped the hotel to the bare structure and recreated the architectural style of the hotel plus installing new electrical, mechanical and life safety systems.
Of particular interest is its huge lobby which has become a living example of the “Toronto Style” with its three themes of natural light, wood and special attention to the building site. The lobby was metaphorically conceived as a stage set with an elevated lounge. A cantilevered, suspended staircase of glass, steel and green onyx stands as a focus point of the whole concept. A translucent blue glass bridge unites the two sections of the mezzanine part of the lobby. The new lobby won “The Best Renovation Award” from the New York based magazine Interior Design.
Minister Galea, an architect by training, and Thomas Payne discussed the new directions of modern architecture with special reference to the Canadian and North American experience. Thomas Payne showed erudite knowledge of the history of Mediterranean, and especially Maltese, architecture.
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