A new expansion for The Drake Hotel on Queen Street West in Toronto will add 32 guest rooms and a larger lobby to the original building that was constructed in the 1890s.

“Our expansion reflects our deep commitment to growing alongside our neighbourhood, respecting our roots, and creating timeless spaces that act as a cultural bellwether for locals and visitors alike,” said Jeff Stober, founder and chief executive officer of Drake Hotel Properties.

Diamond Schmitt Architects will design the addition, while the interior design will be developed by +tongtong and the Design Agency. Construction is scheduled to start in 2017, with a projected completion of 18 to 24 months.

“Our design for the expanded Drake engages history, modernity and urban collage to reflect the vibrant cultural scene of Queen West,” said Donald Schmitt, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects. “The design approach is one of apertures, creating moments between spaces that heighten the kind of interaction one expects at The Drake – serendipitous, ephemeral and repeating.”

Horizontal growth along Queen Street will respect the existing structure. A four-storey masonry base will be topped with a setback, cantilevered suite crafted in reflective steel. The choice of materiality reflects the new culture and layered textures of the historic neighbourhood, once home to the railroad industry.

“This design pushes the practice of conservation and challenges our idea of building tradition, evolving city form and furthering cultural value,” added Philip Evans heritage specialist at ERA Architects.

A new pedestrian bridge spans the existing Sky Yard, which will be framed by a large open steel form. Contemporary glazing on the new façade with both vertical and horizontal emphasis will pop out from the masonry frame against the embedded forms of previous facades and windows on the site.