Fairmont Royal York
with Rockwell Group
Location
Toronto, ON
Project Date
2019
Project Size
21,000 SF
Category
Renovation, Lobby, Bar, Historic Preservation, Millwork, Clock Design, Custom FF&E, Art Direction
Formerly the largest hotel in the British Empire, the Fairmont Royal York underwent a major renovation to reinstate the hotel’s preeminent status within the city for its 90th anniversary. The renovation of this grand, historic hotel is a journey of Toronto’s past through to its present, polishing the building’s rich patina while adding a contemporary layer that feels like it always belonged.
The concept of time is woven throughout the design. The centerpiece of the lobby, a two-sided clocktower, continues the phrase synonymous with the hotel – “meet me at the clock”. The clocktower lounge juxtaposes the passage of time with the romance of train travel. Design elements, like warm globe lights and channel tufted Pullman banquettes, subtly reference the hotel’s historic connection to the Canadian Pacific Railway. The palette pulls from the colours of sunset – deep blue, brilliant copper, and a tinge of pink. Adjacent to the lounge, the discreet reception space is accessed through sweeping marble and bronze ramps with a commissioned mural representing Canada from east to west at each of the check-in stations.
As a significant landmark of Toronto in history and in prominence, we celebrate the legacy of the hotel and bring the story of the Fairmont Royal York into the next era.