National Post

With 2006's focus on Toronto's new opera house, the ROM's crystal addition and the AGO renovation, many new buildings didn't get the attention they should. In fact, this year proved good architecture in Toronto isn't limited to mega-projects or dependent on star architects from out-of-town. But what about Toronto's most high-profile building of 2006, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts by Jack Diamond, of Diamond Schmitt Architects? It would make an accoustian's list of best buildings, and thank goodness the sound quality is sublime. While the glass "city room" lobby would be nice as a stand-alone building, it's encumbered by the big, bleak, black south facade of the rest of the opera house that disqualifies the total package as laudable architecture. Claiming it's an achievement because of its tight construction budget -- $150-million - is slight justification for glaring design inadequacies. An opera house isn't urban context; it should be one of the most astonishing places in our city.