THERE HASN T BEEN A HOTEL LIKE THIS, SINCE THERE WAS A HOTEL LIKE THIS

THERE HASN’T BEEN A HOTEL LIKE THIS, SINCE THERE WAS A HOTEL LIKE THIS WINDSOR ARMS SUMMARY OF MEDIA KIT CONTENTS BIOGRAPHY George Friedmann, Owner/D...
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THERE HASN’T BEEN A HOTEL LIKE THIS, SINCE THERE WAS A HOTEL LIKE THIS

WINDSOR ARMS SUMMARY OF MEDIA KIT CONTENTS BIOGRAPHY George Friedmann, Owner/Developer FACT SHEET WINDSOR ARMS HOTEL PAINTINGS BACKGROUNDERS A Brief History of a Landmark Hotel An Architectural Landmark The Interiors of Windsor Arms Evoke the Past, Embrace the Future

BIOGRAPHY GEORGE FRIEDMANN If there is a common thread running through George Friedmann’s career as a developer, it is his inclination toward diversity. Change has been a feature of his life: at the age of 13 he and his parents left their native Czechoslovakia and settled in Canada. Friedmann first qualified as a chartered accountant, but in 1980 he left that field to pursue the more creative challenges of property development. Since then, he has nurtured a range of distinctly different projects – residential, commercial and retail – from concept through to finished structure. With his acquisition of the Windsor Arms site in 1995, and the fruition of his vision to retain the location’s original image and use, while adding 24 luxury condominiums, Friedmann has added an exclusive mixed-use facility to his already expansive repertoire. “In business I prefer to not repeat the same type of project,” he said, pointing out that a developer’s success depends on being able to create situations, to see and then fill a void in the marketplace. But when it came to this site, Friedmann’s usual logical approach was tempered by his own deep fondness for the historic property that had once welcomed rock stars, producers and politicians from far and wide, as well as a myriad of Torontonians, with unparallelled spirit and flair. “I loved the old hotel,” said Friedmann, “and I saw that Toronto was the only city of its size in North America without a small luxury hotel, so I set out to determine how I could bring it back to the city.” Though the most profitable use of the site would have been to simply build 150 condominium units, Friedmann chose to embark on a more personal path that would result in the reconstruction of the hotel accommodation, bar and restaurant, with a separate residential tower. “A developer’s most important quality is having the ability to create something innovative and different,” he said. With Windsor Arms, Friedmann had ample opportunity to satisfy those creative urges. Early on in the project, when he learned his plans to retain the building’s original exterior were foiled by deterioration caused by years of neglect, he faced an even greater challenge: to reconstruct a piece of cultural and physical history. The original elevation and Neo-Gothic style of the 1927 building were reconstructed, while the interior was totally re-designed to include just 7 guestrooms and 21 guest suites. The restaurants, which had endeared Windsor Arms to both an international and local clientele, were also recreated; with almost the entire ground floor given over to a new Courtyard Café, Club 22, Tea Room and condominium and hotel reception.

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From the choice of design to the technology built into the guestrooms, from the wallpaper to the china, Friedmann has been involved in every detail. “It’s been an interesting evolution,” he remarked. “Usually a developer walks away when the building is complete, but a hotel is an ongoing entity, and it was vital that every single component be perfect, and consistent with the lifestyle.” According to Friedmann, the location was imperative to his decision to instigate the hotel’s renewal. “There is no other location in the city that could command this type of project,” he said. Surrounded by Toronto’s most upmarket shopping precinct and the University of Toronto, the hotel site on St. Thomas and Sultan Street is an oasis of residential calm just steps from the city centre. No one would argue with the necessity for the perfect location, but of equal importance were Friedmann’s nostalgia and personal passion, which underpinned his meticulous reconstruction of the Heritage Toronto-listed building. These elements were also the source of his firm intention that, just as it did in the old days, Windsor Arms has “something for everyone,” from a simple sandwich to a champagne and caviar room and everything in between. “This property brings back something to the city, something which was lost when the hotel closed in 1991,” he said. “I feel we have revived a piece of history that will be here for everyone to enjoy for a very long time.”

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The Interiors of Windsor Arms Evoke the Past, Embrace the Future Translating the diversity of Windsor Arms - a hotel that encompasses elegance, discreet luxury, innovative entertainment venues, sophisticated business facilities and a sumptuous Spa - into a cohesive whole, was the task of Gluckstein Design Planning Inc. Headed by Canadian interior designer Brian Gluckstein, the award-winning Toronto-based firm has extensive experience in innovative, imaginative, top quality interior planning design. And the results speak for themselves. Windsor Arms is one of a very few hotels in the world which successfully blends the traditional and the leading edge, allowing its guests to feel at home, while providing services and luxuries that satisfy even the most discerning of travellers. The deluxe characteristics of the original Windsor Arms, combined with the anticipation of numerous long-staying guests, inspired Gluckstein to create contemporary, luxurious spaces notable for the many home-like touches. Guestrooms feature naturally lit bathrooms, crisp Frette bedlinens, and a wonderful palette of colours and wallpapers. Custom-designed mahogany furnishings are based on a 1920's French style, which Gluckstein describes as "streamlined, but not overly modern, and designed to give echoes of the past." The generously sized bathrooms feature limestone floors and walls; and several suites have fireplaces. The restaurants on the ground floor present diners with a range of styles, both culinary and stylistic. Architecturally, the Courtyard Café can only be described as dramatic. Entered through iron gates, it has been appointed with limestone walls, soaring ceilings, skylights and balconies. Funky lighting add intriguing counterpoints to the classical elements of the room. Sumptuous dark woods and fabrics in heather and mohair create a cozy, private club ambience in Club 22, Windsor Arms’ cocktail bar and nightspot. And, as might be expected, the Tea Room is Windsor Arms' most intimate venue. Central to its design is the fireplace, which dates from the original 1927 structure. The past is similarly evoked by the stunning stained-glass windows, also remnants of the earlier property. Lush fabrics in velvet and silk create a luxurious character, equally suited to quiet afternoon teas or evening celebrations of caviar and champagne. For the Spa, Gluckstein took a slightly different approach. “We wanted it to be very luxurious and intimate, restful yet energizing, with a holistic feeling,” he said. His goal was achieved with the use of beautiful natural woods and pale cotton-terry fabrics. Inspired touches can be seen in the marvellous poolside fireplace and, indeed, in the entrance to the swimming pool itself, which is reached by a set of

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gracefully curving steps. The Spa’s aura of serenity and beauty contributes to its overall objective of rejuvenation of mind and spirit. Windsor Arms, whether inside or out, has regained its status as Toronto’s landmark luxury hotel property.

For further information, please contact: George Friedmann President, Windsor Arms Tel: (416) 971-9666 Fax: (416) 921-9121

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AN ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK When Windsor Arms opened in 1927, the Neo-Gothic scheme of the original Windsor Arms Hotel, with its brown brick, cast stone trim, crenellated parapet and distinctive piers, porches and crests, blended harmoniously with the adjacent Gothic structures that dotted the expansive grounds of the University of Toronto. Over time, as the shopping district which bordered the hotel to the east and north gained prestige and glitter, the reputation of the four-storey Windsor Arms moved in tandem, and the property became renowned as a uniquely superior hotel; a refuge which delighted contemporary travellers, while architecturally and stylistically recalling the grace and comfort of a bygone era. The hotel closed in 1991. Developer George Friedmann purchased the site in 1995, with the intention of retaining its original purpose and character. The Windsor Arms Hotel had been designed a historical landmark by Heritage Toronto in 1991 and Friedmann and architect Sol Wassermuhl of Page + Steele, worked closely with architect and heritage advisor, William Grier, to assess the potential for reconstruction. Years of neglect and decay conspired against the preservation potential. “The architectural detail was in very poor shape,” said Grier. “As well, the original bricks were tested and found to be of marginal structural quality.” The team was left with just two original workable elements that could be safely incorporated into a new structure: the stained glass windows from the Tea Room and the stone portico from the St. Thomas entrance. “We elected to preserve the characteristic imagery of the building,” said Friedmann. “The materials are new, but the image and the use of the site have been preserved.” In many ways, architectural details have been enhanced by reconstruction. The Ontario-sized brick that was used in the original exterior is still made today, and so formed the new façade. But the old vertical raking, which rendered the bricks vulnerable to moisture, is no longer a feature and the material is more long lasting. While taking down the exterior, builders discovered that the original bricks were in several colours, due to natural inconsistencies in the manufacturing process, and painted over. The new bricks provide natural cohesion, without paint. “Because the building was originally designed as a residential hotel, the windows were a hodge-podge of sizes and arrangements,” said Paul Strain, Associate Architect. “We were able to recreate a more orderly window hierarchy, as well as an exterior that was free of air-conditioning brackets.” The replacement windows are double-hung wood, with individual glazed panes. The hood mouldings and stone sills were recreated.

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While tracing the design path of the first architect, Kirk Hyslop, the Page + Steele architects encountered opportunities to fulfill what they believed to be his original intentions. The crenellated parapet and the finials atop the parapet were discovered to be made of metal, painted to match the stonework, probably because metal was cheaper. The new crenellations and finials are of pre-cast concrete, which is assumed to be Hyslop’s original wish. The original stained glass windows on the St. Thomas elevation were incorporated and the stone portico and vestibule of that entrance were retained. The dentilled cornice running around the exterior, between the top storey windows and parapet was recreated in pre-cast concrete. “Our intention was to revitalize and reconstruct the hotel so as to retain the building’s character and image,” said George Friedmann. “This involved significant design and building challenges, but the result has far exceeded our expectations. By preserving the image and the use of the original structure, we have recreated Windsor Arms as a luxury hotel with a long and bright future ahead.”

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF A LANDMARK HOTEL Windsor Arms Opened 1927, Opens Again May 1999 In 1991, Windsor Arms was historically designated by Heritage Toronto, the city’s historical board, as a significant building – and for good reason. Built in 1927 as an apartment hotel, Windsor Arms was constructed in the Neo-Gothic style, with very distinctive exterior features. It was a finely detailed example of a midsized early 20th Century hotel with a residential appearance. Over the years, it became a true Toronto landmark, both for its architecture and design, and for its status as “the” place to be seen. The hotel became a favourite for local and international celebrities. Known as a private, discreet “home away from home,” Windsor Arms hosted many famous guests, including Katharine Hepburn, Gloria Swanson, Richard Burton, Vincent Price, and Christopher Plummer. But it wasn’t only the hotel operation that built Windsor Arms’ reputation. The restaurant known as “three small rooms” opened in 1966, and quickly established itself as a winner on the Toronto dining scene. The Courtyard Café and the adjacent Club 22, added in 1976, were soon identified with the changing cultural life of the city and became established in their own right. In the early 1990s, the hotel changed hands and, in 1991, it closed. Four years later, developer George Friedmann purchased the property, determined to reinvigorate the status of Toronto’s true luxury hotel. Working closely with architect Sol Wassermuhl of Page + Steele, and Heritage Toronto historical consultant William Grier, Friedmann set about reconstructing the hotel. Friedmann’s intentions blended perfectly with the hotel’s designation as a building of historical significance.“I felt it was essential that the use of the site remain true to its original purpose,” said Friedmann: “Windsor Arms was a hotel without equal in Toronto, and I wanted to create an environment in which that sense of innovation would again flourish. So while Windsor Arms has an august history, an even more spectacular future lies ahead as it once again establishes itself as Toronto’s incomparable luxury hotel property of choice.

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Windsor Arms Opens in Toronto FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 1999 The opening of the landmark Windsor Arms is the most significant addition to Toronto’s hotel landscape in years. Once again, visitors to Canada’s largest city will enjoy the outstanding service and sophisticated ambiance of an intimate, luxury hotel property, located just steps from the pulse of Toronto’s most elegant shopping district. A soft opening is scheduled for early May with the official opening day on May 15, 1999. Originally built in 1927, Windsor Arms quickly became synonymous with luxury and quality. Its fabled restaurants became favourite meeting places for fashionable visitors and local residents. When Windsor Arms closed in 1991, guests around the world mourned the loss. In 1995, developer George Friedmann recognized Toronto’s need for an intimate luxury hotel, and purchased the property. His objective was to create a hotel without equal, incorporating the historic elegance of the original building with contemporary innovations demanded by today’s discerning travellers. An awardwinning team of architects, designers and specialized craftspeople came together to produce the result – the reinvention of a true Toronto landmark. As an officially designated historic property, the Neo-Gothic exterior of the original Windsor Arms has been painstakingly reconstructed. The building’s original entranceway and stained glass windows are complemented by pointed arches and a distinctive crenellated parapet. While the exterior is evocative of the past, inside is a much more modern story. Canadian interior designer, Brian Gluckstein, has created contemporary, sophisticated spaces that pamper and soothe, yet create an atmosphere that feels like home. Windsor Arms features just 28 uniquely luxurious guestrooms, ranging from 5001,500 sq. ft. Several guestrooms have fireplaces, and generously sized bathrooms featuring limestone flooring and walls. In its previous incarnation, Windsor Arms was renowned for the quality of its restaurants, and as a fashionable place to be seen. The Windsor Arms will again establish an equally prominent position in Toronto’s culinary scene. At the dramatic Courtyard Café, Executive Chef presents his inventive repertoire of light cuisine, flavoured with exciting influences from Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Europe.

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The intimate Tea Room, re-visits tradition with lovely afternoon teas. In the evening, the space will be transformed into Toronto’s only Caviar and Champagne Lounge, welcoming guests for the most special of celebrations. The legendary Club 22 is Windsor Arms’ nightspot, a sophisticated meeting place with a dance floor, stand-up bar, and a well-ventilated Cigar Room. Of course, Windsor Arms is well equipped to host special events and meetings. The property has been designed with a range of boardrooms, private dining rooms, a screening room and audio-visual facilities, including teleconferencing. Perhaps the most striking new feature of Windsor Arms is The Spa, a soothing oasis on the hotel’s fourth and fifth floors. Rejuvenation of body and spirit is the goal, with a full range of massage, aquatherapy, aromatherapy and hydrotherapy services. The Spa features the latest in high-tech exercise machines, as well as a swimming pool, fabulously designed with a poolside fireplace! Outstanding luxury, elegance, innovation, discretion…Windsor Arms will again assume its unparalleled place as Toronto’s hallmark hotel.

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Windsor Arms Hotel Paintings by David Bierk Courtyard Café: Tea Room:

A Eulogy to Art & Life to Lorrain, Ingres & Robert, oil on Canvas A Eulogy to Art & Life, (Memory) to Fantin-Latour

My work is a continuous examination of the human condition: it looks back at history, it considers the present, and it expresses the tension and dialectic inherent in these observations. Artist’s Comments: A passionate interest in landscape painting and art history is the driving force behind my work. As symbols of the very nature of society and culture, these subject matters are the icons I use to explore the relationship of the planet to its occupants – a relationship of fragility and tragedy on one hand, of beauty and optimism on the other. The juxtaposition of imagery with materials and the occasional use of text in my work points to this tenuous cohabitation of man and his environment. Most recently my work has used fragments of historical masterworks and my own imaginary landscapes, in combination with or surrounded by surfaces of rusted iron, steel, or photography. These materials function as both imprisonment and sanctuary, they simultaneously confine and preserve the image or vista within. And thus the very nature of these associations – past and present, organic and inorganic-epitomizes a view of the world which critiques modernism, mourns the loss of humanism, and searches for a balance between the forces which shape contemporary existence. The issues raised by my work and the ever-present search within my paintings for answers to the same questions asked by Gauguin one hundred years ago (Where Do We Come From? What are we? Where Are We Going?) give my work a context appropriate to the launch of a new century, no less a new millennium. Temporal milestones have always produced in humans a need and a desire for reflection and contemplation. My work is not only directly related to these very ponderings but the accessible nature of its subject matters and its open-ended and ultimately positive message lend themselves suitably and poignantly to the timing, audience and venues proposed for this exhibition.

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FACT SHEET Neighbourhood A stimulating mix of elegance and excitement, Toronto’s Yorkville district dazzles. The city’s most fashionable shopping area, the neighbourhood brims with designer boutiques, restaurants both sophisticated and funky, and a pulse that’s distinctly different. Windsor Arms, nestled on a quiet street in the midst of Yorkville, is ideally located – steps from the heart of Toronto’s most fashionable shopping district and just minutes from the city’s financial and entertainment areas. Patrons A tranquil haven of residential calm in the midst of Toronto’s most upmarket district, Windsor Arms’ location is greatly favoured by visiting celebrities, politicians and business tycoons. The hotel’s aura of warm, discreet, luxury, combined with exceptional levels of service enhances its appeal to the most discerning traveller. The 26 suites and 2 guestrooms incorporate the latest in communications technology and feature home-like comforts in layout and décor, making them ideally suited for lengthy stays. The hotel’s restaurants enjoy strong local support, especially among the entertainment industry, and a continually varied international clientele. Guest Accommodations 2 Guest Rooms  500 sq. ft.  Two double beds and a work desk 24 Suites  550 – 1000 sq. ft.  One- and two-bedroom configurations (some suites connect to Junior Suite or Standard Guest Room for a total size of 1,500 sq.ft.)  Apartment suite features a den / kitchen. 2 Windsor Suites  1,500 sq. ft.  One-bedroom, living room, den, two bathrooms  Both with fireplace in the den; one suite with a second fireplace in the main bathroom.

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All Guest Room Features  Luxurious wall coverings, sumptuous Frette linens  Generously sized bathrooms, some with natural light, limestone floors and separate shower stalls, whirlpool tubs  Bedside light, audio & video, CD, VCR, DVD controls  High-Speed Internet Access and multiple telephone lines  Butler service  Butler’s closet, to facilitate seamless service Restaurants Courtyard Café Elegant and classical, The Courtyard Café environment is breathtaking. Entered through iron gates, the restaurant features limestone walls, soaring ceilings, skylights and balconies. Dramatic lighting enhances the serene ambience. The Chef’s Table is also available for the true culinary experience. Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Brunch: Late Night Dining:

Monday to Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Club 22 With a cozy, sophisticated atmosphere, Club 22 features a dance floor, stand-up bar and a seating area, as well as a well-ventilated cigar lounge. Throughout the day, it transforms from a casual brunch spot into a trendy cocktail hour destination, and finally, to a favourite late-night club scene for dancing and parties. Live music Wednesday to Saturday. Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tea Room Occupying the same location as in the original Windsor Arms, the Tea Room presents afternoon teas, in a serene, civilized ambience. Come evening, the mood changes, as the Tea Room transforms into Toronto’s only Caviar and Champagne Lounge. Offering nothing but the best of these luxuries, this room is ideal for the most special celebrations. Afternoon Tea:

daily at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

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Conference/Meeting Rooms A selection of rooms available to accommodate business & social functions from 6 to 500 people. Two of three meeting rooms have windows that open and range from 403 sq. ft. to 584 sq. ft. with duo-teleconferencing facilities available in one of the two boardrooms and computer networking capabilities in both. Courtyard Café is available for larger functions including weddings and family celebrations. We are now featuring our very own Gourmet Kosher Kitchen available for private functions. The Spa The Spa features the latest in high-tech exercise equipment, fabulously designed swimming pool with a poolside fireplace, as well as a full range of aesthetic services including massage, aquatherapy, aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy. The Barber Shop The Barber Shop offers men of all ages the luxuries of a gentlemen’s spa, featuring hot lather shaves with face massages, manicures, and men’s haircuts and styling. It is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch and a cocktail while indulging one’s self in life’s simple pleasures. A selection of men’s accessories by Dupont and Valentino is also available.

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