Monday, July 20, 2015

York Region Administrative Centre


 Looking northerly at the York Regional Administrative Centre, Newmarket

My town, East Gwillimbury, is situated just north of Newmarket, the centre of York Region (formerly York County), which is just north of Toronto. (Did you get that?)

 Moving counter-clockwise

Geographically, Newmarket is situated in the centre of York Region so the logical choice for the region's headquarters. Local politicians wanted a knockout building so chose a design by superstar Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal, known for designing buildings with flowing lines, a reflection of his heritage as a descendent of the Blackfoot First Nation in southern Alberta. It truly is a stunning building showing Cardinal's respect for nature and love for natural rhythms.

 Clock towers on the south side of the main entrance

Truth be told, I had originally taken photos of this building to capture the incredibly neat reflections in the windows (more about that next Friday), but a day after I took these photos I saw a TV documentary on the building's architect. (Serendipity) Yep, I need to go back and take a longer view of the entire building.

Main entrance

Although this is the main entrance, the parking lot is on the north side of the building so it looked to me like the north entrance was actually the "main" entrance.

Clock towers and flags on the north side of the entrance

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.
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53 comments:

  1. BlogorattiJuly 20, 2015 at 4:46 AM

    What a unique design and the photos do capture it well. Greetings!

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  2. AnonymousJuly 20, 2015 at 4:46 AM

    What a unique design, I like it!

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  3. MersadJuly 20, 2015 at 4:46 AM

    It's a very impressive and stunning building. Interesting architecture as well.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  4. DeniseinVAJuly 20, 2015 at 4:53 AM

    I like your photos of this impressive building. Quite a place.

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  5. ADRIANJuly 20, 2015 at 4:59 AM

    Those clock towers make the ordinary extraordinary. The building would be nothing in my eyes without them.

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  6. Stewart MJuly 20, 2015 at 5:13 AM

    Nice architecture - who says that concrete is dull!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  7. Amy at love made my homeJuly 20, 2015 at 6:11 AM

    What an amazing building! xx

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  8. RevrunnerJuly 20, 2015 at 6:19 AM

    I see a lot of similarities to our Native American Museum in Washington, D.C.

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  9. GreensboroDailyPhotoJuly 20, 2015 at 6:40 AM

    Love the design of this building. Looks very 1970's! Did I miss, when was it built?

    Janis
    GDP

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  10. AnvilcloudJuly 20, 2015 at 6:50 AM

    Looks great. Architecture is not dead -- just very expensive. :)

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  11. eileeninmdJuly 20, 2015 at 7:16 AM

    It is a cool building, I like this design! Great shots! Happy Monday!

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  12. AndyJuly 20, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    Fantastic looking build. I am glad you went back for more photos.

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  13. RoseJuly 20, 2015 at 9:19 AM

    I think I need to look at Google Earth to fully get it...and will try to think and do that when Tootie goes home. I will say this..I love the clock tower. And I wonder if the building having these flowing lines makes people feel more at ease.

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  14. Elizabeth EdwardsJuly 20, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    wild shaped building ... very circle-yyy!! ( ;

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  15. KathyJuly 20, 2015 at 10:35 AM

    What a contrast the old county courthouses here in Texas that I'm so fond of. The clock towers are amazing. What a transition from Victorian to modern!

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  16. Penelope NotesJuly 20, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    I am fond of these rounded rather than sharp edges. The building flows and the clock towers are magnificent … like giant flutes ready to capture the wind when it blows through town.

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  17. RedPatJuly 20, 2015 at 10:45 AM

    As soon as I saw your first pic I thought it was a Cardinal design. He is so talented and as Revrunner implied he was the architect for the Native American Museum in Washington too. Nice post, EG!

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  18. carol l mckennaJuly 20, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    Great angle and composition in your wonderful photos!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  19. William KendallJuly 20, 2015 at 10:54 AM

    It is beautiful. The first shot, I was already thinking Douglas Cardinal. I love his work.

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  20. JudyJuly 20, 2015 at 11:08 AM

    The lines of it are so graceful, I like it.

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  21. Sylvia KJuly 20, 2015 at 11:27 AM

    What a terrific and different building, EG!! And your captures are superb as always!! A great tour and thank you -- again, as always! Hope you have a great new week!! Enjoy!!

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  22. StephanieJuly 20, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    A beautiful and unique building.I really liked the last shot of the clocks.

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  23. VPJuly 20, 2015 at 12:09 PM

    A very interesting architecture for an unusual and beautiful building!

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  24. Margaret Birding For PleasureJuly 20, 2015 at 12:39 PM

    a fascinating building.

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  25. cieldequimperJuly 20, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    Very round and you really can't miss the time, can you?

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  26. Gail DixonJuly 20, 2015 at 2:55 PM

    That is a remarkable design for a building. Those clock towers are magnificent! The turquoise glass in the windows remind me of ocean water. Truly lovely!!

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  27. Linda W.July 20, 2015 at 3:28 PM

    What an unusual building.

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  28. HalcyonJuly 20, 2015 at 4:10 PM

    I like this building! Nice architecture.

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  29. DebbieJuly 20, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    it's so unique, or would be for this area anyway....i love the clocks!!

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  30. JanieJuly 20, 2015 at 4:46 PM

    That is some interesting architecture. I love the clock towers.

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  31. Adam JonesJuly 20, 2015 at 5:27 PM

    Fascinating buildings.

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  32. Ruth HiebertJuly 20, 2015 at 5:52 PM

    That is a beautiful and unique building.

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  33. Photo CacheJuly 20, 2015 at 5:58 PM

    I like all the curves.

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  34. Gill - That British WomanJuly 20, 2015 at 6:06 PM

    My friend had a job interview there this past week. Should know this week if she got it. Never seen that building before.

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  35. DianeJuly 20, 2015 at 6:57 PM

    Wow fabulous pictures.

    Hugs Diane

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  36. GreenComotionJuly 20, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    Beautiful clock tower and building, Tina!
    My cousin worked in York U for a while and I have seen pictures of York/area, from the 60s, but nothing recent like yours.
    Have a Great Week!!
    Peace :)

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  37. Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪July 20, 2015 at 8:46 PM

    the circles remind me of our NZ Beehive, our parliament building.

    There is something wrong with posting comments. before i couldn't post to you. Today, I can.

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  38. CloudiaJuly 20, 2015 at 8:53 PM

    LOVE your compositions!

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  39. TexWisGirlJuly 20, 2015 at 9:23 PM

    a neat building.

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  40. RandyJuly 20, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    Nice design.

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  41. Pietro BrosioJuly 20, 2015 at 10:12 PM

    An impressive structure with a unique design. Nice images!

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  42. KateJuly 20, 2015 at 10:49 PM

    It truly is a remarkable building. Despite its size it feels light and airy with the stonework, windows and curved lines.

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  43. Yogi♪♪♪July 20, 2015 at 11:00 PM

    I think nice architecture really adds to building.

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  44. CherylJuly 20, 2015 at 11:04 PM

    Amazing photos of a beautiful building.. well done :-)

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  45. KayJuly 21, 2015 at 12:50 AM

    It's a knockout. I was immediately taken with it's texture -- limestone? And the more I looked at it the more it reminded me of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian (thank you, Red Pat for the confirmation!). Great shots of a really wonderful building!

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  46. orvokkiJuly 21, 2015 at 1:54 AM

    I like this arkkitectur, the clocks are nice.

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  47. AnonymousJuly 21, 2015 at 2:50 AM

    Amazing architecture. Very nice building

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  48. IndraniJuly 21, 2015 at 2:53 AM

    Whoa! These architectural designs are stunning! I would love to take pics myself. :)

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  49. OhmydearestsJuly 21, 2015 at 4:09 AM

    very interesting building!

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  50. JeevanJuly 21, 2015 at 7:08 AM

    Beautifully architecture and impressive with curves and clock towers! You got great photos

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  51. Fun60July 21, 2015 at 4:07 PM

    What an interesting building. I like the clock towers.

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  52. JennyJuly 21, 2015 at 4:46 PM

    Lots of great curves.

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  53. JackJuly 23, 2015 at 9:28 PM

    The curving horizontal surfaces are quite beautiful. I am less enamored of the vertical columns.

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