A new architectural enterprise is set to rise along Toronto’s Waterfront skyline with The Q Tower. This joint venture between Lifetime Developments and Diamond Corp is located in the Harbourfront neighbourhood at 200 Queens Quay West. A 60-storey mostly residential, mixed-use tower that strives to blend modern architecture and artistry, it will feature the work of internationally renowned artist Michael Moebius.
UrbanToronto recently interviewed Moebuis and Brian Brown, Principal of Lifetime Developments, to delve deeper into the vision behind Q Tower. Brown particularly emphasized the tower’s prime location and its waterfront views. “When looking out north from the water, you’ll be staring right at it,” he noted. “There’s nothing between you and the CN Tower. Looking south, you’ve got complete exposure to the lake. This is a site I don’t think we’ll ever be able to replicate.”
Designed by Wallman Architects, Lifetime intends the Q Tower’s architecture to be a notable addition to the city’s evolving skyline. Inside, the award-winning studio U31 has crafted interiors drawing inspiration from British Monarchy and design.
But what will truly set the Q Tower apart is its collaboration with Michael Moebius. Known for his hyper-realistic portraits of celebrities playfully blowing bubblegum bubbles, Moebius’s artwork will be a significant highlight. “The viewers can see new perspectives, which include my art, in this beautiful location,” he shared. “It’s always a beautiful thing to connect art with interior design and architecture. They belong together — if you do it right.”
Given the location and the building’s exposure, surrounded by other buildings in the busy Waterfront area, Brown further elaborated on the synergy between Moebius’s art and Wallman Architects; “it was crucial to collaborate with an architect that could deliver a design the city would be proud of.” He added, “When you Google Toronto, the first image is a view from the water looking towards the city. We’re building a tower next to the CN Tower, so it had to be visually stunning.”
A standout work will be the iconic image of Queen Elizabeth II, adorned with Moebius’s signature bubblegum bubble. When looking for partners, from galleries to developers, Moebius ensures they deserve to have his art for their business. He shared that he chose Lifetime because they care about working artists and their collaborators.
Moebius also expressed his admiration for Toronto, likening its vibe to a “relaxed New York” and drawing parallels with Oslo’s modern architecture. He added that he is currently working on the interior spaces of Q Tower, including a piece featuring all the actors who have portrayed James Bond for the building’s casino room.
The Q Tower is set to offer over 900 residential units. With its strategic location, design, and the inclusion of Michael Moebius’s signature artworks, Lifetime Developments and Diamond Corp are looking to offer an elevated lifestyle experience. For more information or to register, visit Qtower.ca.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.