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L Tower Toronto by Daniel LibeskindWhen designs were first revealed for <a href="http://www.theltower.com/">L Tower</a>, architect <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/daniel-libeskind/">Daniel Libeskind</a>'s 57-story, knife-shaped condo tower in downtown <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/toronto/">Toronto</a>, it promised to be one of the boldest new high-rises in all of Canada. Since then, the design has been modified, removing part of the base that would have given the building its 'L' shape, but the curved form of the tower remains intact. The building, which aims to achieve LEED Gold certification, is currently rising above Toronto, and glass cladding is being added near the lower levels.1
L Tower Toronto by Daniel LibeskindAs construction moves forward, workers are preparing to work on the building's most striking feature: that sharp curve that begins on the upper floors. When it's completed, the new building will feature 600 new condos with a fitness centre, a spa, an indoor pool, and underground parking. The building is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.2
L Tower TorontoThe city of Toronto sold the parcel of land to the developers in order to finance renovations at the nearby Hummingbird Centre.3
L Tower TorontoBlue glass cladding has been added to the lower 10 stories of the building.4
L Tower TorontoThis image, produced by forum user udo at <a href="http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/06/l-tower-gets-photoshopped-and-cladding-too">UrbanToronto.ca</a>, shows the current state of construction overlayed with a rendering of the building.5
L Tower Toronto<a href="http://www.thestar.com/article/232182--going-green-to-get-the-gold">According to a recent report in the Toronto Star</a>, striving for LEED Gold could reduce energy and water use at the tower by as much as 30 percent while improving air quality.6
L Tower Toronto"L-Tower is an elite building, so we’re trying to strive for that LEED certification," developer Sam Criagnano recently told <a href="http://www.cbj.ca/index.php?news=7344">Canada Business Journal</a>.7
L Tower TorontoToronto has its own Green Development Standard for buildings, but as LEED has grown in popularity in the US, it has also been catching on in Canadian cities.8
L Tower TorontoRight now, L Tower looks like a fairly standard high-rise, but in the coming weeks workers will begin pouring concrete on the upper floors, revealing a sharp curve in the structure.9
L Tower TorontoThe development of L Tower is closely linked to the adjacent Hummingbird Centre.10
