Toronto's red-hot housing market is spilling over into the university towns of Southern Ontario, making them more attractive to investors, and helping fuel new condominium developments in these markets. In Waterloo, CTN Developments' ONE28 King St. N. aims to add a 15-storey condominium development to the mix, just steps from Wilfrid Laurier University.

ONE28 King St. N., image courtesy of CTN Developments

The Hatem Nassif Architects-designed development is offering 120 one and two-bedroom condominium units sized at 536 ft² to 959 ft² and priced from the high $200,000s. Geared towards students, investors, and young families, the project will offer residents a range of amenities, with interior spaces appointed by CTN's in-house design team. We took a look at these spaces in a recent article, and are now returning for a closer look at the project's interiors, this time previewing the building's suites.

Kitchen at ONE28 King St. N., image courtesy of CTN Developments

Above, a kitchen is pictured with stainless steel appliances, a kitchen island with wood-grain finishes to match the flooring, and bright backsplashes. Below, a view of one of the suites' bedrooms shows a naturally-lit space courtesy of large windows. Like the amenities, all interior spaces have been designed by CTN's in-house design team.

Bedroom at ONE28 King St. N., image courtesy of CTN Developments

Occupancy for the project is expected to take place as early as Spring 2020. Upon completion, the building will put residents just a few hundred metres south of Wilfrid Laurier University, in an area of Waterloo with a growing collection of mid- and high-rise residential towers and a Walkscore of 94.

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Under construction at Toronto's Yonge and Bloor intersection, Mizrahi Developments' The One promises to break more new ground with a series of firsts for the city. The project designed by Foster + Partners and Core Architects will be the city and country's tallest building upon completion, the first local instance of high-rise top-down construction, and the first large-scale use of a hybrid exoskeleton support system in Toronto.

Looking south to The One and beyond, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

Similar to support systems implemented by Foster + Partners for the Gherkin in London and The Bow in Calgary, The One's hybrid exoskeleton places the bulk of the building's structural support system on the tower's exterior, transferring the tower's load down to the ground via eight 'super columns' grouped in four pairs, each pair supporting one side of the building. 

Hybrid exoskeleton system on The One, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

It took roughly 50 revisions of the plans to arrive at the 85-storey, 306.3-metre-high building now under construction, a process which included 3D printing each version in miniature form for testing. The project team examined various possibilities for massing, height, structural systems, and exterior expression, with the final plan utilizing wide expanses of glass and a bronze metallic truss system to set itself apart.

The One, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

Along with the striking structural expressionism on the facades, the logic behind the hybrid exoskeleton extends to the interior opportunities created by not having to build structural columns and walls in the units. This has the advantage of creating wide open, naturally-lit floor plans with greater potential for layout customization. The project's website boasts that this system will also allow The One to be the first tower in Canada with corners where two sheets of glass meet.

Suite interior at The One, image courtesy of Mizrahi Developments

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

It's an exciting time for structural engineering in Toronto. Earlier today, we talked about the hybrid exoskeleton structural system that will be used at The One, and now we look at another project pushing the limits of structural engineering; Amexon Development Corporation's Residences of 488 University Avenue. Designed by Core Architects (who are also working with Foster + Partners on the aforementioned The One) along with Sigmund Soudack & Associates engineers, the project is adding 37 new residential floors above an existing 18-storey, 1968-built office building.

Residences of 488 University viewed from the southeast, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

The project got underway in 2015 with the removal of the office building's original mid-Century exterior details, clearing the way for the installation of an exterior bracing system designed to independently carry the load of the new levels around the office tower and to foundations below grade. This bracing system has been sealed off by new curtainwall glazing, and capped with a tabletop transfer slab from which the new residential levels have begun to rise.

Residences of 488 University viewed from the southeast, image by Forum contributor Towered

Above, the base of the steel structure supporting the transfer slab marks the former roofline of the office tower prior to the start of work. While the existing office tower and structural support system were both constructed in steel, the large transfer slab and the new levels above are being formed with reinforced concrete. A closer look below reveals that crews are now forming the 20th and 21st floors, the first two above the transfer slab. With these levels much more slender than the office floorplate below, the residential tower's north and south stepbacks have become apparent.

Residential levels rising at 488 University, image by Forum contributor Towered

The forming of the residential levels marks an important milestone for the project, which had to wait through much of 2017 for the crucial and complicated tabletop structural work. Residential levels will soon rise at a much faster rate, as the forming and repeating typical layouts will put workers into a rhythm. Changes to the floorplates will be relatively minimal as the tower rises, meaning we should see 488 University reach its final 207-metre height before the end of 2018.

Residences of 488 University, image courtesy of Amexon

Additional information and many renderings of the development can be found in our database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

Two adjacent projects proposed for Toronto's Entertainment District have been consolidated. A Scott Shields Architects-proposed plan for 8 through 20 Widmer Street has been acquired by Plaza, and will be incorporated into their Theatre District Residence project planned to the immediate north a 30 Widmer. The proposed 56-storey tower at 8-20 Widmer faced resistance from the City, but negotiations before appearing at an OMB settlement hearing paved the way for approval of a smaller tower, and Plaza's subsequent interest in the site. 

West-facing aerial view of Theatre District Residence, image courtesy of Plaza

Plans for Theatre District Residences now call for 49 and 48-storey Quadrangle-designed towers, rising from 10-storey podiums and reaching heights of 157 metres (512 feet). At the southwest corner of Widmer and Adelaide a 48-storey hotel and condominium tower is coming—the 353-room hotel will be housed on the lower 28 floors—while a 49-storey condo-only tower rising behind Victorian homes to the south. The 131 suites in the north tower won't be sold until later in the process, but suites in the south tower are already selling. 

Facing northwest at Theatre District Residence from Widmer, image courtesy of Plaza

In the image below which places the towers within their local context, the height of both towers has been exaggerated to make them stand out. Theatre District Residence will, in fact, rise to the same 'tabletop' height of its neighbouring Entertainment District towers—157 metres or 515 feet.

Southwest-facing aerial view of Theatre District Residence, image courtesy of Plaza

An onsite presentation centre for the project faces Adelaide Street. Plaza has set up a website accepting registrations for the project.

Theatre District Residence presentation centre, image by Craig White

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Today's Photo of the Day features a snowy scene from Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square. Submitted to our Massey Tower Forum thread by Marcus Mitanis, this view faces east across the square's skating rink, showing the growing impact of the Massey Tower as it rises towards a height of 60 storeys.

Snowy view of Nathan Phillips Square, image by Marcus Mitanis

Want to see your work featured as Photo of the Day? Head over to the City Photos & Videos section of the Forum, or submit your images to our Instagram or UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page. 

Mayor John Tory's 10-point plan to alleviate TTC crowding; The TTC’s budget is rising, but will service improve?; Maven moves into Toronto’s crowded car sharing market; and more news:

A Last Minute Ten, Nine, Eight … Point Transit Plan (Torontoist)

Watch: Mayor John Tory's 10-point plan to alleviate TTC crowding (Metro News)

The TTC’s budget is rising, but will service improve? (Toronto Star)

Bars, barriers and ghost amenities: Defensive urban design in Toronto (Torontoist)

Christopher Hume: Toronto film board should look beyond Port Lands for studio space (Toronto Star)

Weston Mount Dennis Community Place Hub seeks input for renovations (Inside Toronto)

Maven moves into Toronto’s crowded car sharing market (Toronto Star)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Goettsch Partners Completes Rosewood Sanya on China's Hainan Island (Sanya)

Demolition Underway for Second Amazon Office at Dunsmuir and Homer (Vancouver)

Tower Floors Begin Forming at The Hat (Calgary)

Federal Government Pumps Money into Roxy Theatre Rebuild (Edmonton)

The first phase of Daniels Waterfront - City of the Arts—an office condominium known by its Queens Quay address of 130 QQE—is now structurally complete and soon to add 280,000 ft² of new office, institutional, and educational space to Toronto's waterfront. With the RAW and Rafael + Bigauskas Architects-designed project set to open this summer, new details continue to emerge about the various unique spaces and companies that will populate the development.

130 QQE at Daniels Waterfront, image by Forum contributor Koops65

Among the major tenants, Artscape Daniels Launchpad is gearing up to occupy their 30,000 ft² design entrepreneurship hub space on the fifth floor of the building. In the construction photo above, dark curtainwall cladding demarcates the space, contrasting against the surrounding brick and glass sections. Below, an updated rendering shows that Artscape signage will be installed, enhancing the space's visibility from street level.

130 QQE with Artscape signage, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca/

A series of interior renderings show off the facility's Quadrangle-designed aesthetic while offering a look at the features meant to provide entrepreneurs with affordable access to technology, tools, and services needed to better build their businesses.

Inside Artscape Daniels Launchpad, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca/

The Launchpad will offer a range of programs and activities including workshops, and events designed to support creative entrepreneurs. Various services and resources will be made available to users of the facility, including membership-based services that connect small businesses with industry opportunities. 

Inside Artscape Daniels Launchpad, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca/

Among the professional tools and services that will be available at Launchpad, fully equipped, multi-disciplinary production studios will offer tools for multimedia and recording artists.

Studio at Artscape Daniels Launchpad, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca

An open, naturally-lit space for events and lectures will offer south-facing views of Sugar Beach and the waterfront.

Event/lecture space at Artscape Daniels Launchpad, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca

A rendering of a common space shows a bright palette of colours with angular lighting and finishes that respond to the shape of the space's south wall. This common space will connect with an outdoor terrace, and overlook 'The Yard', a retail-lined pedestrian walkway to run between 130 QQE and the now-rising residential phases to the north.

Common space at Artscape Daniels Launchpad, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca

Artscape Daniels Launchpad is named in recognition of The Daniels Corporation and the John and Myrna Daniels Foundation, which contributed $5.75 million in funding for the project. Additional funding was provided by the Government of Canada through Canadian Heritage ($3.5 million), the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science ($3 million), TD Bank, and various philanthropic donors and investors. Over $21 million of Launchpad's total $27.3 million cost has been provided through funding and donations.

Textile studio at Artscape Daniels Launchpad, image via artscapedanielslaunchpad.ca

Additional information and renderings can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

A corridor of mid-rise density is growing along Toronto's Sheppard Avenue East, in the blocks east of Bayview Avenue. A handful of projects are under construction along this stretch of Sheppard in North York, including Lotus Condos by Chestnut Hill Developments and Fortress Real Developments, set to be the next project to complete in the area. We last checked in on the construction of the 12-storey Kirkor Architects Planners-designed condominium development back in September, and much progress has been made in the months since.

Lotus Condos viewed from the west on Sheppard Avenue, image by Craig White

At the time of our last update in the Fall, Lotus' 9th floor was being formed, and lower volume of the L-shaped structure's northern arm was in the process of topping out above Sheppard Avenue. Since then, the final three residential levels and subsequent mechanical level have taken shape above, marking the completion of structural forming.

Lotus Condos viewed from the east on Sheppard Avenue, image by Craig White

The latest photos from the site reveal that cladding installation is well underway. A combination of precast concrete with dark inlaid brick and stone veneers can be seen framing the structure's volumes. The main tower cladding is also now taking shape, consisting of an aluminum window wall system with contrasting dark and light sections. A system with clear glazing and grey spandrel panels is being installed on the projecting volume at the building’s northwest corner, while the main elevations are being finished with a darker window wall system.

Cladding installation underway for Lotus Condos, image by Craig White

Lotus Condos' 244 residential units are now entirely sold out, and the project applied for Condominium Approval—the final stage of the planning and approvals process—in September 2017. Following completion of the project later this year, Lotus will introduce new retail to the area around Bayview Station. Residents of the development will have access to a selection of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a landscaped rooftop terrace, a fitness room and outdoor yoga garden, a boardroom, and a private dining room.

Lotus Condos, image courtesy of Chestnut Hill/Fortress RDI

Additional information and another rendering can be found in our database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

It was mid-November when we last checked in on the construction of Ryerson University's Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex in Downtown Toronto. At the time of our last update, forming of the podium was wrapping up at the 27-storey, Perkins + Will-designed educational building, marking the start of work on the student residence tower above.

Daphne Cockwell Complex viewed from the north on Church Street, image by Edward Skira

Roughly three months have passed, and the rising tower floors have begun to make their presence know in views from surrounding streets. In views from the north and south, the tower's ample stepbacks and slender floorplate help to minimize the impact on the medium-density scale on this stretch of Church Street. The north-to-south width of these floorplates is evident in views captured from the east and west. This portion of the development will rise a total of 18 floors above the podium, with 11,376 m² (122,450 ft²) of residential space across 100 student housing suites, with beds for 332 students.

Tower floors rising at the Daphne Cockwell Complex, image by Edward Skira

As the tower enters into skyline views, progress continues on the podium below. Split into two volumes, the podium levels are now largely enclosed from the elements with a mix of curtainwall glazing and punched windows. The areas with punched windows still have to be finished with white exterior panelling, while the windowless accent sections of the podium will be finished with vibrant orange panels.

Podium of the Daphne Cockwell Complex, image by Edward Skira

The podium levels will expand the campus with new space for Ryerson's Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Midwifery Education, the School of Nutrition, the School of Occupational and Public Health, and the Communications, Government & Community Engagement department. Space for Ryerson's University Advancement, Food Services, and a Fabrication Zone will also be housed within the podium levels. The combined institutional and student residence components add up to 30,900 m², or 332,604 square feet.

Podium of the Daphne Cockwell Complex, image by Edward Skira

Additional information and renderings can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Today's Photo of the Day takes us to Humber Bay Park in South Etobicoke. Captured by drone and submitted to our Forum by contributor Jasonzed, this view faces north over the mouth of Mimico Creek and the growing skyline of the Humber Bay Shores community.

Humber Bay Park and the Humber Bay Shores skyline, image by Forum contributor Jasonzed

Want to see your work featured as Photo of the Day? Head over to the City Photos & Videos section of the Forum, or submit your images to our Instagram or UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page. 

Advocates call on province to close loopholes that allow landlords to hike rent; Learn more about the future of Toronto's port lands at upcoming meeting; John Tory will not commit to future cap on Toronto property taxes; and more news:

Advocates call on province to close loopholes that allow landlords to hike rent (Metro News)

Learn more about the future of Toronto's port lands at upcoming meeting (Inside Toronto)

TTC errors, customer fight contributed to disastrous commute (Toronto Star)

Pre-sale regulations in spotlight as hot GTA condo market leaves buyers out in the cold (Globe and Mail)

In a city of rising rents, one man’s search for an affordable place to call home in Toronto (Toronto Star)

John Tory will not commit to future cap on Toronto property taxes (Globe and Mail)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Bjarke Ingels Group-Designed Skyscraper Breaks Ground (Singapore)

West End Telephone Exchange Receiving Historic Resource Designation (Calgary)

Grierson Centre a Symbol of the RCMP's Evolution (Edmonton)

Open House Held for Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver Redevelopment (Vancouver)

Just shy of three months since shoring activity began at the site of Cityzen Development Group and Fernbrook Homes' St. Lawrence Condos at 158 Front, excavators have made the first cuts at the northwest corner of Toronto's Sherbourne and Front intersection. The project will introduce a pair of 26-storey, architectsAlliance-designed condominium towers to the neighbourhood, replacing a temporary surface parking lot that was built following the 2011-2012 demolition of a former Greyhound Bus facility.

Facing west across the St. Lawrence Condos site, image by Caleb Cho

The asphalt surface of the former parking lot has been removed from the east end of the site closest to Sherbourne Street, and excavators have progressed a few feet down for this portion of the site. Excavation will continue to a depth of four storeys before forming can begin for the foundations and the 202-space underground parking component.

Facing northwest across the St. Lawrence Condos site, image by Caleb Cho

Over at the western half of the site, a single shoring rig from Anchor Shoring—Anchor was recently acquired by GFL—is finishing up piling for the site's below-grade earth retention system. This shoring system's below-grade retaining walls will allow the excavation phase to progress safely.

Facing east across the St. Lawrence Condos site, image by Caleb Cho

The combined excavation and shoring phases are anticipated to continue through May, to be followed by below-grade forming activity from May to August. Above-grade forming for the conjoined podium structure and two tower volumes above is expected to continue to April 2021.

Facing north across the St. Lawrence Condos site, image by Caleb Cho

We will provide updates as construction progresses. In the meantime, additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Last month, the start of lakefilling operations at Essroc Quay marked the first steps in transforming Toronto's Port Lands to support future urbanization. A seven-year, $1.25 billion Flood Protection project aims to re-naturalize the mouth of the Don River, creating a new river valley through the Port Lands, as well as a new island, plus necessary infrastructure such as public parks, roads and bridges. With construction now underway, the public will be given the opportunity to voice feedback on the project's proposed Promontory Park and River Valley at an upcoming community consultation hosted by Waterfront Toronto. 

New river valley, Villiers Island and the re-naturalized mouth of the Don River, image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto

At the meeting, members of the public will be briefed on the project by Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher and project team members from Waterfront Toronto and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, followed by a question and answer period with representatives of the City of Toronto and Toronto and Region Conservation. Feedback is also being collected through a brief online survey titled “How to Make a Great Park.”

The public meeting will take place on Thursday, February 22, 2018 in the Ada Slaight Hall at Daniels Spectrum, located at 585 Dundas Street East in Regent Park. Drop-in hours are 6 PM to 9 PM, while presentations will take place from 7:00-7:45 PM.

We will keep you updated as more information about the Lower Don Lands Redevelopment emerges. In the meantime, additional information about the area's redevelopment is available in our database file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts about the project? Leave a comment in the space below, or add your voice to the ongoing discussion in our associated Forum thread.

The redevelopment of Newtonbrook Plaza, on Yonge Street at Cummer Avenue in North York, has been on UrbanToronto's radar for several years now. The 8.6-acre property currently represents a gap in the wall of intensified development that has been marching north from the 401 over the last couple of decades, changing the nature of Yonge Street from a low-rise 1950s and 60s Toronto suburban dream strip into the high-rise corridor we know today as North York City Centre.

Looking southeast towards the Newtonbrook Plaza site, image courtesy of Aoyuan Property Group

UrbanToronto's thread for the site starts on October 6, 2011, a day after the then owners of the site submitted an application to rezone the property for the type of development being seen elsewhere strip. Without a decision made by Council—long past the 180-day limit imposed for Official Plan Amendment applications—the proposal went before the OMB in September, 2015, and was approved the following year. Subsequently, on November 1, 2017 it was noted that Aoyuan Property Holdings had purchased the property, and now the company—its parent based in Guangzhou, China, and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange—is ready to announce its arrival in Toronto.

Aoyuan's Yushan Lake development in China, image courtesy of Aoyuan

Aoyuan has been around since 1996, and were the first developer in China to integrate sports and recreation facilities into primarily residential projects. Embodying the idea that healthy living starts at home, Aoyuan's Olympic Garden development was sports-themed, and as endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, set a new standard for master-planned communities in China. Growing from their home base of Guangzhou, Aoyuan over the last 20 years has built over 200 million square feet of space in 100 properties, both primarily residential and commercial, in over 30 cities. Aoyuan operates six arms which range from e-commerce to hospitality, including a chocolate theme park within a vast Aoyuan resort destination nestled in the mountains to the north of China's bustling Pearl River Delta megalopolis. They first went international in Sydney, Australia in 2015, and are now building in Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia.

Aoyuan and Ecove's One30 Hyde Park project in Sydney, Australia, image courtesy of Aoyuan

In Toronto, Aoyuan is arriving with an ambitious project, as the 8.6-acre Newtonbrook site at over $200 million was one of the largest real estate deals of 2017 in the city. Vince Santino, Senior Vice President of Development (Eastern Canada) at Aoyuan Property Holdings (Canada) Ltd., said in a prepared statement, "Aoyuan’s entry into Toronto is very exciting news for the development community. Aoyuan brings a unique approach to the way we think about the built environment and real estate. Building healthy lifestyle communities was part of their DNA from the beginning. Aoyuan knows real estate is not only about giving people a two or three-bedroom unit. They have a corporate intelligence about the way people live which gets baked into their master-plans.” Santino brings 25 years of experience in Toronto’s real estate development industry to Aoyuan.

A few blocks north of the Finch subway, GO Bus, and YRT terminal, the project is the company's largest master-planned community in the country. Zoning is in place for residential towers as high as 44 storeys rising from podiums which will include a community centre, daycare, retail at ground level, and 180,000 sq ft of office space. Answering the City's call to provide more homes for families, Aoyuan is planning larger suites of various shapes and sizes. Accordingly, land along the eastern edge of the site facing a stable low-rise neighbourhood—currently surface parking—will be turned into a park and playground.

Last year Aoyuan surpassed $9 billion in sales, so they're doing something right: their promotional material puts it like this: 

Fundamental to Aoyuan’s international success is their hyperlocal on-the-ground approach. In every city, Aoyuan hand-picks local talent who understand the development landscape and nuances of the local market. As a result, Aoyuan’s international portfolio is diverse and their projects are wildly successful with local purchasers.

Josie Arcella, Sr. Sales & Marketing Manager (Eastern Canada), Aoyuan Property Holdings (Canada) Ltd. said in a prepared statement, “The magnitude of what Aoyuan has accomplished is incredibly diverse and this gives them a very broad perspective. Aoyuan takes into consideration exactly how purchasers will be affected by every decision they make. Can they move around freely in their bedroom, can they fit a Queen bed? Is a walk-in closet most functional? Aoyuan’s designs are not based solely on global trends, but on the functionality of the entire community and what buyers really need.”

The statement by Fan Yang, Deputy General Manager (Eastern Canada), Aoyuan Property Holdings (Canada) Ltd., reads, “Aoyuan’s diverse business arms allowed them to develop a deep understanding of people’s lifestyles and behaviours and build a strong service-oriented approach to real estate development. I am excited to be part of the local team that is bringing Aoyuan’s expertise to Toronto. The Newtonbrook Plaza site at Yonge and Finch has all the right ingredients, and Aoyuan has what it takes to help make Toronto more liveable for families.”

Looking west across the Wallman Architects plan for the Newtonbrook Plaza site, image courtesy of Silvercore

We do not yet know if the Wallman Architects-designed master-plan for the site (above) which took it through the rezoning process will be carried through, or to what degree it may be modified, but we will be back to elaborate further on the development as more details become available. In the meantime, to see more renderings of the Wallman design, please visit our database file for the Newtonbrook Redevelopment, linked below. Want to talk about it? You can get in on the conversation in the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

This instalment of our Growth to Watch For series picks up where we left off in our last instalment, meandering north through North York with an overview of all of the activity happening above the 401 and west of Yonge to the 400. Despite the 60 km² area's distance from many of the centres of activity throughout Toronto, there is still quite a bit of development happening in the western half of North York, with growth along the Sheppard corridor, the redevelopment of Downsview Park, the recent opening of the subway extension, and the expansion of major institutional campuses. This instalment will take you on a 35.5 km path covering all developments currently under construction, and many the proposals across various stages of the planning and approvals process.

Map outlining the area covered, image via Google Earth.

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Picking up where we left off on Wilson where it passes under the 401, we continue west a few blocks. A 2016 plan from Collecdev for 470 Wilson Avenue, near the Allen, calls for an imposing groundscraper designed by gh3. The plan seeks rezoning for a 13-storey condominium building, a 12-storey rental building, and a series of 4-storey stacked townhouses with a combined total of 623 new residential units. The project has been appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), and City Planning staff have recommended that Council send staff to oppose it. A prehearing is being held later this month.

Rendering of 470 Wilson, image courtesy of Collecdev

A block to the west, a pocket of density surrounding Wilson Subway station continues to grow following the completion of Gramercy Park by Malibu Investments' and Station Condos on the Subway by Brandy Lane, Shiplake, and Wise. The next project to add more life to the area will be Malibu's second phase of Gramercy Park, dubbed Southside Residences. The project's 15 and 17-storey Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects-designed towers will add roughly 500 suites to the neighbourhood once complete in 2019.

Southside Residences as seen in January, image by Forum contributor PMT

Opposite on the west side of the road, another 2016 application from Malibu sought rezoning and an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for a trio of towers with heights up to 16 storeys at 4-6 Tippett Road. Now being marketed as Express Condominiums on the Subway, the 651-unit project by RAW Design is due for an OMB hearing in March to determine the next steps for the project.

Rendering of Express Condos, image courtesy of Malibu Investments.

Just to the north, construction is underway at the Tippett Road and Wilson Avenue site of Metropia's Rocket Condos, a 13-storey 242-unit condo building designed by gh3. Crews are now in the process of excavating the building's underground garage and work here will continue throughout the year.

Excavation for Rocket Condos, image by Edward Skira

Rocket Condos would be followed by a second phase 8-storey 154-unit residential building erected to the south of Station Condos at 36R Tippett. Also designed by gh3, developers Metropia, Shiplake, and Wise are bringing this building which would contain 100 affordable housing units, half of which will be rentals and the other half of which will be for purchase. Renderings from 2017 show a machined aesthetic with undulating balconies.

Phase 2 of Rocket, image via submission to City of Toronto

Collecdev and gh3 are working together on another project on this block, this one at 30 Tippett Road. The 2017 proposal for OPA and rezoning, seeking 13 and 14-storey residential buildings and a park dedication, is currently working its way through the planning process, with community consultations expected to take place in the coming months.

30 Tippett Road, image via submission to City of Toronto

Several hundred metres west, past Allen Road and just east of Dufferin Street, an early 2017 application for one-and-three-storey commercial buildings at 725 Wilson Avenue has evolved since its initial submission. Resubmitted for Site Plan Approval (SPA) in the final days of the year, the current plan calls for an SMV Architects-designed office and retail building with a total gross floor area of 7,706 square metres.

725 Wilson Avenue, image via submission to City of Toronto

Continuing west on Wilson to Dufferin Street and turning south, we arrive at the site at 3621 Dufferin Street. Here, Dymon Storage has proposed a uniquely mixed-use 9-storey, TACT Architecture-designed building containing 141 residential condo units wrapping around a storage locker facility. Submitted for SPA in December, 2017, a recent City notice reveals that the project's Preliminary Report will be made available prior to an upcoming February 21st meeting of North York Community Council.

Facing north at 3621 Dufferin Street, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Backtracking to Wilson Avenue and continuing west, a 2016 proposal from Time Development Group seeking OPA and rezoning for a 9-storey mixed-use building between Keele and Jane streets at 1326 Wilson Avenue was resubmitted for SPA in August, 2017. The AJ Tregebov Architect-designed project is now planned to rise ten storeys, and contain 95 residential units, 1,543 m² of retail space, and medical offices on the 1st and 2nd floors.

South and east elevations of 1326-1328 Wilson, image courtesy of Time Development Group.

Moving further west, we arrive at Jane Street and divert north to 160-200 Chalkfarm Drive, where Verdiroc and WZMH Architects submitted a proposal for infill development at a suburban Tower-in-the-Park site. The late 2016 plan called for a 36-storey residential tower with almost 600 new rental units. The project has since been appealed to the OMB, though no scheduled hearings have yet to be made public.

Rendering of 160-200 Chalkfarm, image courtesy of Verdiroc.

Backtracking over 2 kilometres east and turning north on Keele Street, we pass the 2017-completed The 2800 Condos and continue northbound, arriving just south of Downsview Park. Here, Stafford Developments is preparing to break ground on their 155-unit Luxury Townhome Collection at Downsview Park project after seeing successful sales in 2017. The Turner Fleischer Architects-designed project's 3 and 4-storey townhouses are expected to begin construction this spring.

Rendering of the Downsview Park Townhomes, image courtesy of Stafford Homes.

Continuing north along the west edge of Downsview Park, an OMB-approved plan for 3100 Keele Street is now being marketed as The Keeley. Taken through rezoning by the Decade Group, the property was purchased in 2017 and is now being headed by TAS and Fiera Properties. While we only have a rendering for the SMV Architects-design which was proposed for the rezoning, we expect to have renderings of the new Teeple Architects design for TAS shortly. If it fits the recent zoning amendments to a T, it will introduce 325 condominium units to the neighbourhood, as well as new at-grade retail space.

Rendering of 3100 Keele, image courtesy of Decade Group.

Moving north on Keele, we arrive at Sheppard before starting a short diversion to the west. At the corner of Sheppard and Seeley Drive, a 2016 proposal for 1629 Sheppard Avenue West seeking rezoning for 4 pairs of semi-detached houses was resubmitted for SPA in October 2017. 

1629 Sheppard Avenue West, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Reversing course, we head east along Sheppard, passing the recently opened Downsview Park Station, bringing subway and GO service to the area. A short distance east of the station, a 1929-built De Havilland aircraft plant on the former Downsview military base is being repurposed to serve as the new home of the Downsview Park Aerospace Campus of Centennial College. Construction of the MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA) and Stantec Architecture-designed facility is well underway, with the campus set to open this fall.

Rendering of the Centennial College Downsview Park Aerospace Campus, image courtesy of Centennial College.

Continuing east and crossing Allen Road, we arrive at the site of Urban Capital and ALIT Developments' dormant Futura Condos project, directly east of Sheppard West Station's north entrance. The 199-unit, Wallman Architects-designed condominium development was approved by the OMB at 14 storeys in 2015, with the site put up for sale later that year. We do not know if the site has been purchased, or when there may be any news here.

Rendering of Futura Condos, image courtesy of Urban Capital and ALIT.

Just to the south, a district plan is in the works by Build Toronto for the Allen District, a 54-acre plot of land stretching south from Sheppard West Station that the City wants to develop into a mixed-use neighbourhood. After an extensive consultation process that continued into 2017, a draft plan of subdivision zoning by-law, and environmental assessment consultation process are expected for 2018. Included in the Allen District coverage area, the lands immediately east of Sheppard West Station would support mid-rise office uses at 1035 Sheppard West.

Conceptual massing of the Allen District, image courtesy of Build Toronto.

Continuing eastbound on Sheppard, we arrive at the corner of Faywood Boulevard, where a two-building proposal dating back to 2005 at 847-873 Sheppard West changed hands in 2017. Evolved from a 2016 plan, a September 2017 resubmission from Crown Communities for OPA, Zoning Bylaw Amendment (ZBA), and SPA calls for 172 stacked, and back-to-back townhouses arranged in 7 blocks, designed by SRN Architects.

847-873 Sheppard West, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Further east on Sheppard, Greenfield Quality Builders' proposed Sheppard and Gorman Park Condos—named for the intersection it would occupy—was proposed in 2016, and appealed to the OMB in 2017, with no hearings currently scheduled. The 9-storey building designed by superkül would add 85 condominium units to the neighbourhood.

Gorman Park Condominiums, image via superkul.ca

A bit further east on Sheppard, a pair of 9-storey Kirkor Architects-designed proposals at 813 Sheppard West and 740-748 Sheppard West are near mirror images of one another. The former was resubmitted to the City in October 2017, while its sibling project to the east has already been approved. Both sites were recently listed for sale by CBRE, meaning we could learn more following a potential sale of the sites.

Looking northeast to 740 Sheppard Avenue West, image courtesy of Royal Lane Sheppard Group

Just across the street, Torbel's Diva Condos is now topped out at 9 storeys at 741 Sheppard Avenue West. The structurally-complete KFA Architects-designed building will wrap up construction later this year, bringing over 100 new condominium units to the neighbourhood.

Diva Condos, November 2017, image by Forum contributor salsa

Moving east, an OMB-approved mid-rise condominium plan for 719 Sheppard West has remained dormant for a few years, but updated renderings were found on the website of Icon Architects in early 2017. While this was initially interpreted as a sign that the project might be revived, the site has since once again fallen inactive, and it's anyone's guess as to whether this one will reappear in 2018.

Rendering of 719 Sheppard West, image courtesy of Icon Architects.

Right across the street from the 719 Sheppard site, Quadcam Developments' plan for Westmount Boutique Residences at 700 Sheppard West was resubmitted to the City for OPA and ZBA in August, 2017. With the proposal's history dating all the way back to 2011, the 10-storey, KFA Architects-designed condominium development with ground floor retail is now one step closer to approval. The latest plan has been reduced in scale, from 134 units down to 128.

Westmount Boutique Residences, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

The wall of proposed mid-rise density continues to the east, where a 2016 proposal at 665-671 Sheppard West evolved in 2017. The SRN Architects-designed project by Crown Communities, now known as Clanton Park Towns, is proposed to rise 5 storeys from Sheppard at Yeomans Road, containing 51 townhome units. An official website for the project is now taking registrations.

Clanton Park Towns, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

A block and a half to the east, we arrive at Bathurst and duck south from Sheppard to a vacant site at 4362 Bathurst that has been awaiting redevelopment for years now. Rezoning for an 8-storey mixed-use residential and retail development was approved for back in 2012 and a single-family detached house occupying the site was demolished in 2015. A "for lease" sign was added to the vacant site in 2016, though no activity was recorded in 2017.

Vacant site at 4362 Bathurst Street, image retrieved from Google Street View

Turning around, and heading north past Sheppard, an expansion of the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre is underway at 4588 Bathurst following a Fall 2017 ground breaking ceremony. The 9,930 m² (106,000 ft²) IBI Group-designed expansion—to be known as The Sheff Family Building—will contain a daycare, fitness centre, art gallery, studio, chapel, theatre, offices, and more. The $72-million project will remain under construction through 2018.

Rendering of the Sherman Campus, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Back on Sheppard and continuing east, a late 2016 proposal seeking significant density at 325 Bogert Avenue was issued a refusal report from the City in 2017. The plan from Greatwise to add six residential towers ranging in height from 21 to 37 storeys to the site of an existing three-to-six-storey rental apartment complex was appealed to the OMB following the refusal, and is due for a prehearing on February 22nd.

325 Bogert, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

A 2012-approved plan for a 6-storey, 42-unit development at 258-262 Sheppard Avenue West resurfaced in 2017 following a sale to Park Hiatt Developments. Now known as The Addington, the project was resubmitted last year as an eight-storey, 163-unit Kirkor Architects-designed condominium development. The Addington has since been appealed to the OMB, with a prehearing scheduled for May 28th.

The Addington, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Steps to the east, another mid-rise proposal at 245 Sheppard Avenue West from developer PineLake Group and WZMH Architects was refused by the City in 2016. The plan for an 11-storey condominium building and a block of seven three-storey townhomes was appealed to the OMB last year, and a hearing is planned to take place between August 20th and 31st.

Rendering of 245 Sheppard West, image courtesy of the PineLake Group.

Turning north on Senlac Road, we pass through the York Cemetery, where a one-storey addition containing a visitation room, an exterior patio area, new storage space and corridor connections to the existing facility was proposed in late 2017. Designed by Hatch Architects, 101 Senlac is currently under review by planning staff.

Continuing north up to Finch, we hang a left and continue westbound for a few blocks before reaching a mid-rise proposal at 221-231 Finch West. Dating back to 2013, the Icon Architects-designed plan has evolved quite a bit over the years, and was most recently proposed at four storeys with 91 residential units. An OMB hearing scheduled for April 2016 was cancelled, and the City issued Notice Of Approval Conditions (NOAC) the following month. No new activity has been recorded in 2017, though we'll be sure to our eyes peeled for movement.

Rendering of 221-231 Finch West, image courtesy of Icon Architects.

Across the street to the north, a long-dormant infill townhome proposal at 228 Finch Avenue West resurfaced this month with a resubmission to the City. The latest plan from architects Line & Page seeks rezoning for a four-storey, 40-unit townhome development. The resubmitted plans are now under review by City staff.

228 Finch Avenue West, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

A few doors to the west, a late 2016 rezoning application for 240 Finch Avenue West remained dormant in 2017. The plan from design/build firm Urbanscape calls for 6 connected three-storey freehold townhouses with heights of 11 metres.

240 Finch Avenue West, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Continuing west towards Bathurst Street, a 2016 proposal for 286 Finch West was resubmitted for rezoning last year, seeking a three-storey stacked townhouse building with 25 units, to share the site with an existing four-storey rental apartment building. An OMB appeal has since been filed for the Kirkor Architects-designed project, though no hearings have been scheduled as of yet.

A half-kilometre to the west, North York General Hospital's (NYGH) former Branson campus will soon be transformed into a seniors care centre by Advent Health Care. The first phase of development at the 555 Finch West site will be a 5-storey building containing long-term care, supportive housing, and assisted living units for seniors. While the project's necessary OPA and rezoning were granted in 2009, the City only issued NOAC last year shortly before the hospital's Urgent Care Centre closure. NYGH's lease of the site will be terminated next year.

Moving west another half-kilometre brings us to the site of 591 Finch West, between Bathurst and Dufferin. A 12-storey 78-unit residential proposal by Keith Loffler McAlpine Architects was approved for the site by City Council back in 2014, though almost four years later, the site remains vacant and no new information has emerged.

Almost three kilometres to the west, and just a block from the new Finch West subway station, construction is progressing at Haven Developments and Union Capital's 8-storey, 180,000 ft² University Heights Professional and Medical Centre. The ACK Architects-designed office condominium development rose above grade last year, and is now ascending above the Finch and Tangiers Road intersection. Construction here is expected to wrap up later in 2018.

University Heights Professional and Medical Centre, image by Edward Skira

Continuing west past Keele Street, we reach Sentinel Road and turn north. Passing a Tower-in-the-Park style rental housing community with a dormant 2006 intensification plan at 470 Sentinel Road, we arrive at York University, now home to its very own subway station on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension.

At the north end of Sentinel Road, we turn east at The Pond Road, passing the 2017-completed the twin buildings of The Quad Student Residence and turning north, arrive at the site of the new York University Student Centre with architecture by Cannon Design. Marked by a dramatic cantilevered volume, the structurally-complete four-storey building is on track to open this year. Once complete, it will introduce new study space, meeting rooms, club and student offices, administrative spaces, lounge areas, recreational uses, and more restaurant/retail space to York University.

York University Student Centre, December 2017, image by Forum contributor PMT

At a similar stage of construction progress, the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building at York University's Schulich School of Business is adding 67,000-square-foot (6,225-square-metre) of space to the school. Designed by Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, construction is scheduled to wrap up this year.

York University Schulich Research and Graduate Building, December 2017, image by Forum contributor PMT

Passing by the newly-opened York University Station and threading our way through the campus past its second subway stop at the north end—Pioneer Village Station—we turn onto Steeles Avenue, heading east. Passing Dufferin Street and the West Don River, we arrive at 1755 Steeles Avenue West, a site owned by pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur, formerly the University of Toronto's Connaught Laboratories site. Here, Sanofi Pasteur is expanding the site with a 3-storey, 15,000 m² manufacturing building on the southern portion of the site. The project was approved by Council in 2017, and is underway.

Sanofi Pasteur expansion, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Following east on Steeles again, we arrive at Bathurst where we turn south for just over a block. A 2016 proposal from Pinedale Properties for their Tower-in-the-Park residential community at 6040 Bathurst Street would add a 19-storey rental tower and a 29-storey condo tower amongst existing buildings. Designed by the IBI Group, the plan was appealed to the OMB last year, and a prehearing was originally scheduled for February 23, 2018. The OMB file has since been updated to "adjourned" and no further hearings have been scheduled, meaning a settlement may have been negotiated behind the scenes. If so, we will hear more soon.

Rendering of 6040 Bathurst, image courtesy of Pinedale Properties.

Returning north along Bathurst to Steeles, we resume our eastward trek, arriving at a 1970s-built 15-storey rental apartment building at 755 Steeles Avenue West. A plan dating back to 2014 seeks infill development here, with a 10-storey residential building, 2-storey townhouses, 4-storey, stacked, back-to-back townhouses, and a single-storey retail building. A refined proposal for the Rafael + Bigauskas Architects-designed project—known as Marcher Towers—was resubmitted for ZBA in June, 2017, and is now under review by City staff.

Additions planned for 755 Steeles Avenue West, image by Rafael + Bigauskas Architects

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We end our journey through the western half of North York approaching Yonge Street. Next up, our Growth to Watch For series heads south through North York Centre and turns eastward along the Sheppard corridor through Willowdale, summarizing all the development happening in the eastern half of North York. In the meantime for more information, make sure to check out the database files and Forum threads linked below for each of the projects mentioned. You can tell us what you think of all the developments happening in the city by joining the discussions in the associated Forum threads, or by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page!

Today's Photo of the Day comes to us from Forum contributor steveve, who captured a shot of the Massey Tower rising into the skyline of Downtown Toronto. Captured from an elevated vantage point to the north, this view shows that the Hariri Pontarini-designed condominium tower is now roughly 50 storeys tall, and closing in on its final 60-storey height above Yonge Street.

Massey Tower rising above Yonge Street, image by Forum contributor steveve

Want to see your work featured as Photo of the Day? Head over to the City Photos & Videos section of the Forum, or submit your images to our Instagram or UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page. 

TTC errors, fighting contributed to nightmarish January commute; This artist paints Chinatown and Etobicoke in the style of the Old Masters; One year later, staff and firefighters remember Toronto racquet-club blaze; and more news:

One year later, staff and firefighters remember Toronto racquet-club blaze (Globe and Mail)

‘A man who helped everybody’: Beloved TCHC superintendent remembered by tenants (Toronto Star)

TTC errors, fighting contributed to nightmarish January commute: Report (Metro News)

This artist paints Chinatown and Etobicoke in the style of the Old Masters (Toronto Life)

Videographer captures coyote crossing the ice in Toronto harbour (Toronto Star)

New all-way stop slated for busy intersection in High Park area (Inside Toronto)

Edward Keenan: Goldilocks budget? Let’s hope it doesn’t have an old-fashioned fairy-tale ending (Toronto Star)

Volunteers sought to help integrate new Runnymede shelter (Inside Toronto)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Snøhetta Designs "Energy Positive" Hotel in Northern Norway (Meløy)

The Lightworks Building Reimagines Art Deco Base (Vancouver)

City Collecting Public Input as Parks Bylaw Faces Review (Calgary)

Beljan Development Proposes Makeover for Low-Rise Strathcona Building (Edmonton)

This week's Throwback Thursday takes us to Midtown Toronto's Yonge and Eglinton intersection, where the site of a former bus terminal serving Eglinton subway station has been transformed with construction for the new Crosstown LRT. Turning back the clocks just a year and a half to August 2016, the open-air bus terminal that opened with Eglinton Station in 1954 was replaced a half-century later by a new sheltered terminal within Canada Square to the south. This large plot of land would sit idle until mid-2016, when crews began to assemble on site to start demolishing the bus bays.

Facing south over the former Eglinton Station bus terminal, 2016, image by Forum contributor drum118

Returning to the same vantage point in 2018, perched atop the Yonge Eglinton Centre podium roof, yields a changed view. The abandoned bus terminal shown in the 2016 photo above has been completely demolished, replaced with construction activity for the Crosstown LRT's new Eglinton Station. The twin tunnel boring machines used to tunnel the western portion of the line from Yonge to Keele now sit below the active construction site, awaiting extraction. The station itself will only take up a small portion of the site, while the remainder of the site is slated for redevelopment following the completion of the Crosstown.

Facing south over the former Eglinton Station bus terminal, 2018, image by Edward Skira

We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto!

Contractors, developers, property owners, and engineers will congregate next month at Brampton's Pearson Convention Centre for a conference, hosted by GeoSolv Design/Build Inc. and Geopier. On March 27th, professionals from all areas of the construction industry will gather to discuss how to overcome building challenges encountered on development sites in the province.

Sponsored by UrbanToronto, the Geo2018 Conference: Developing Challenging Sites will offer talks from industry experts, covering many aspects of land development, including ground improvement, how to scope site investigations, getting projects out of the ground, due diligence, and how challenging soil conditions can affect the design of structures.

Drilling in challenging soil, image courtesy of GeoSolv

Speakers at the event will include representatives and principals from Waterfront Toronto, Terraprobe, Moses Structural Engineers, Ground Force Environmental, Thurber Engineering, and other notable firms involved in local land development. The presidents of both companies hosting the event—GeoSolv Design/Build Incorporated's Mark Tigchelaar and Geopier Foundation Company's Kord J. Wissmann—are among those who will speak.

Those registering before the end of the day tomorrow (February 16th) can take advantage of an Early Bird Rate of only $48.67+HST. The registration fee will increase to $75.00+HST this weekend, so those interested in attending are encouraged to act fast. You can learn more about the event and register at this link.

It has been roughly two years and eight months since Lanterra Developments broke ground on their Wellesley on the Park project, just west of Toronto's Yonge and Wellesley intersection. Construction of the 60-storey tower—designed by KPMB Architects, working with the IBI Group—first involved several months of shoring, excavation, and below-grade forming that extended well beyond the tower's footprint, as a large portion of the site's at-grade area will become a new 1.6-acre public park. Above-grade, construction for the tower has been progressing since the start of 2017, and the tower's growing height has begun to impact views from the surrounding blocks.

Wellesley on the Park viewed from the east on Yonge Street, image by Craig White

Now standing 15 storeys above Wellesley Street, Wellesley on the Park's organic curves have become apparent to passersby. In views captured from the south, the series of terraced stepbacks that transition the podium levels to the more slender tower floorplate is especially eye-catching, and will add visual interest to visitors of the new park that surrounds the tower base.

Wellesley on the Park viewed from the southeast, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

Since work transitioned from the podium levels to the repeating layouts of the tower floors, the speed of construction has increased significantly. With workers now in the swing of forming one every week, Wellesley on the Park's ascent is expected to continue at this rate, and bring the building into prominent skyline views by the end of the year.

Wellesley on the Park viewed from the northeast, image by Craig White

As the tower floors rise above, cladding installation has begun on the building's podium levels. The first panels of this curtainwall glazing system were spotted in early December, with solid frit patterned spandrels along slab fronts, visually dissolving from translucent to clear for the windows. Unlike the primarily curtainwall-clad podium levels, the tower portion above will be finished in window wall cladding behind by wraparound balconies.

Cladding installation for Wellesley on the Park as seen in mid-January, image by Forum contributor Benito

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.