Modern Wing at The Drake Hotel

The Drake Hotel Modern Wing

TORONTO

18 years after opening its doors, Toronto’s bastion of culture, community and hospitality has evolved with the city to introduce a new Modern Wing.

Words: Eleanor Howard • Photography: © Brandon Barré

Having spent almost two decades building his hospitality empire, entrepeneurturned-hotelier Jeff Stober has recently returned to where it all began – The Drake Hotel. Owing to its success, the Toronto fixture has now opened a new wing, marking the next chapter for the Queen West neighbourhood. “This has been a long-term project in the making,” says Stober of the expansion. “We initially purchased the adjacent buildings over a decade ago and subsequently went through various iterations in consultation with the city and the architects. With the backdrop of an everevolving neighbourhood, and the completion of Drake Motor Inn in Prince Edward County, we thought it was the right time to introduce a significant newbuild addition as a complement to our flagship hotel.”

Set in a new building directly alongside the existing hotel, the five-storey Modern Wing incorporates a living room-style lobby, an intimate street-front bar, meeting and event spaces, 32 new guestrooms and a cantilevered rooftop penthouse suite. “We saw an opportunity to present an evolved, grown-up version of The Drake, but it was important to us that the scale and scope of the project fit in with the streetscape and maintain the integrity and roots of our brand – art, culture, community and hospitality,” Stober continues. “We invest tremendous energy and creativity into curating our guest experiences and this expansion allows us more opportunities to do just that, all while pushing our design ethos forward.”

To bring the new wing to life, Stober enlisted DesignAgency to work in collaboration with The Drake’s in-house design team and the hotel’s original designer +tongtong, with Diamond Schmitt Architects overseeing the architecture. “Many elements from our original style guide continue to take centre stage in the new Modern Wing,” says Stober. “Our usage of douglas fir, terrazzo, brass, cork, leather, wallpapers, upholstery, contemporary art, and exciting vintage furniture finds have been a longstanding form of expression for us. We embraced the challenge of constructing a next gen building that interconnects with the original Classic Wing and judging by the initial response, we think the vibe and soul carries forward seamlessly.”

To ensure a seamless transition between the two wings, terrazzo flooring is carried through to the new lobby, but now with the addition of geometric patterns and contemporary swirls, while walnut tambour panelling paired with a painted brick fireplace, vintage furniture and local artworks bring warmth.

Underscoring the hotel’s ambition as a meeting place for Toronto’s creative community, the lobby bar is fronted by full-height windows for a visual connection between guests and passers-by. Inside, Art Deco-inspired arched panelling and a woodchip terrazzo countertop build on the Classic Wing’s features and give the bar its distinct personality.

In line with the evolution, the guestrooms bring a newfound sense of refinement to the hotel’s playful and referential style. From saturated colour palettes and abstract wallpaper to outlandish artworks and timber furnishings, signature design elements from the Classic rooms have been carried over, while custommade blankets, patterned rugs and lighting by local artisans honour The Drakes’ creative expression. The penthouse meanwhile blends Art Deco, Nouveau and Mid-Century styles through an artful layering of pattern and colour.

“Since The Drake Hotel opened 18 years ago, the neighbourhood has matured from a local secret to a world-renowned destination for art, fashion, food and culture,” says Anwar Mekhayech, a Founding Partner at DesignAgency. “The interior design for the Modern Wing reflects how Drake continues to lead this vibrant scene by rethinking and reinventing itself.”

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