City
Dupont Station losing its charm due to neglect
Dupont subway station is my absolute favourite station on the entire TTC subway network. Designed by Dunlop-Farrow Architects and built in 1978, the station is simply beautiful. Its unique orange colour palette, gorgeous floral-themed mosaic tile work by James Sutherland, and many rounded surfaces and finishes (including benches that blend seamlessly into the walls, rounded wall corners, and bubble-like light fixtures) make it a truly special underground design marvel.
But things have gotten a little worse for wear of late, with tiles crumbling, and countless light fixtures either missing covers or having bulbs blown out or both.
One of the station's defining features are its many lighting fixtures, which dot both the ceilings and walls throughout the station at platform level, and all the way up to near street level. Curved fluorescent bulbs fit inside the circular metal mounts that are covered by either plastic or glass (I'm unsure) covers.
I counted more than two dozen of these funky and chunky light fixtures that are missing covers (and have been for quite a long time). As a result, the station is starting to lose its visual charm as it appears to be falling victim to ongoing neglect.
Before readers jump on me and stomp me for expressing what is admittedly a minor problem in the grand scheme of things (we all know the TTC is struggling with major staffing, financial, and other problems), I want to make it clear that my concerns are rather superficial in nature.
But seeing one of the most loved places on our public transit system fall into such an embarrassing state of disrepair is reason for concern, in my opinion. I mean, how much money and effort (or how little, perhaps) would cost to replace just the missing light covers? I've posed the question to the TTC on numerous occasions, but haven't heard back.
In addition to the lighting problems, tiling is also is need of patch-up fixing. And makeshift solutions to decay (like this non smoking sign held up by green masking tape) aren't making the situation any better.
TTC manangement: if you're reading this, let it be known that I'm willing to volunteer a day or two of my time to help with the required labour. I'm almost certain that my volunteering to do union work would be problematic, but I just thought I'd throw that out there anyhow.
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maybe you can settle an ongoing question we have... were those little orange dots individually placed, all umpteen million of them? or were the walls somehow put up in sheets and just the curved corners done the hard way?
Tiles usually are attached to a standard-size mesh backing (e.g., by the square foot) so you can tackle large areas. Then these sheets of tiles can be mortared/grouted in place.
You're right about the slow decay though. This was my station 10 years ago, and it was the same story then—to say nothing of that strange perpetual scaffolding supporting the ceiling on the main level by the Northwest exit.
The entire subway system needs a major top-to-bottom end-to-end scrub! I bet there are many volunteers who would be willing to do the job, but you're probably right about stepping on union toes.
As for the tiling question: those mosaic tiles come in sheets as you say, but there's no need to do any of it the hard way; the sheets are flexible.
Can we please get a properly-funded transit system? Please?
Even Rosedale is showing it's age (most of the current yellow platform line is a metallic extension from the original platform via multiple cross-beam supports that makes an awful creaking sound when you step on it.
Start a campaign: 69 floor buffers for 69 stations!
This is just another example of the TTC's lack of care about its users.
They could not replace the original tile work on the original Yonge subway, so they replaced them with what you see now.
The problem is replacing the light fixtures and tiles at Dupont Station maybe difficult to replace with the same items, especially if they don't make them anymore. That is why people tend to keep spares of the original tiles, but when they run out do they cover the missing pieces with pictures of their cat?
And while we're at it, don't forget the whole issue of potentially reinstating Michael Hayden's neon installations in Yorkdale station (might some LED proxy be suitable?); as well as the removal of Rita Letendre's skylight mural at Glencairn (though in that case, it was with Letendre's approval)
And I agree that with a little loving care it could be restored to its original grandeur.
Would be nice if they renovated the entrances to make them a bit more welcoming though.