8 Queen | 3 fl | Complete

[panamaniac]

I'm not thrilled with the colour of the brick, although it goes well with the new glass front. 

Much better than the brown/red brick that is ever so common in the region. Think of the Market Square hue, or the building next to this one in the pictures. When it comes to brick it should generally be pure red (bright or dark, but red)  or the right hue of yellow.

This building looks better in real life for two reasons: the new brick color matches the glass better and the original render had a too short/stunted height glass extension. Just a few more feet in height restore the balance in height/width ratio  (square buildings look "fat").

I'd agree wrt to the brown brick of Market Square, and Bank of Montreal if that's the "next to" building you mean.  I quite like the brickwork of the Conservatory builidng and that is what I would have liked to see on 8 Queen (i.e. closer to the original Goudies bricks).  I remember thinking back in the seventies that Downtown was at risk of drowning in brown brick.  At the moment, black/slate grey seems to be the popular colour but I hope they don't overdue it.  The new brickwork at KCI is an example of "good brown" brickwork.

Speaking of the Bank of Montreal building, it is the one I would put ahead of even Market Square as needing exterior renovation and a complete recladding.  It is truly awful!