In the little over two months since we last checked in on the construction of Madison Homes and Fieldgate Urban's ZIGG Condos, much progress has been made on the 11-storey Kirkor Architects-designed condominium on Toronto's St. Clair Avenue West. Back in January, work was underway on the building's sixth level, which tops the base volume fronting St. Clair. Now, forming of the 11th and final habitable floor is underway, to be followed by the mechanical penthouse level that will top off the mid-rise development.

ZIGG Condos viewed from the northwest on St. Clair, image by Jack Landau

Alongside the rapid forming witnessed during the past few months, another conspicuous element of the project has been taking shape below, with the first of ZIGG's exterior precast concrete panels installed along the St. Clair frontage in February. Precast cladding now rises to ZIGG's third floor, and is soon to be complemented by contrasting dark brick elements. Window installation will then seal the building envelope, with glazing scheduled to be completed in the Summer.

Precast cladding on the north side of ZIGG Condos, image by Jack Landau

While the completion of structural forming is in sight, ZIGG's tower crane will remain in place throughout the Spring in order to hoist remaining precast panels and roofing materials. Following the completion of the building envelope, the covered walkway along St. Clair will be removed, priming the site for the start of new sidewalk and streetscape construction.

ZIGG Condos viewed from the northeast on St. Clair, image by Jack Landau

Aerial views of the site from the west contextualize ZIGG's contribution to St. Clair's growing mid-rise corridor, showing how the building's massing relates to nearby structures. The project's six-storey base picks up on the scale of surrounding mid-rises, while the stepped-back upper levels transition the massing towards the centre of the site. To the rear, a series of stepbacks help reduce the massing to meet the more low-rise neighbourhood to the south.

ZIGG Condos viewed from the west, image by Jack Landau

Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file for ZIGG Condos, 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.

Earlier today, a major new addition to Sheridan College’s Hazel McCallion Campus (HMC) officially opened at Duke of York Boulevard and Square One Drive in Mississauga. Designed by Daniel Teramura of Moriyama & Teshima and Daniel Ling of Montgomery Sisam Architects, the five-storey, 220,000 ft² building's opening ceremony was held this morning, attended by numerous dignitaries including representatives of the Ontario provincial government, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, and former Mississauga mayor, building namesake, and Campus Chancellor Hazel McCallion.

Exterior of the Hazel McCallion Campus Expansion, image courtesy of Sheridan College

This morning's grand opening was preceded by a media tour guided by the project's lead architects, and an opportunity for guests to explore some of the building's interactive exhibits. At 10:30 AM, the crowd then gathered for remarks from President of Sheridan's Student Union, Sylvia Ibrahim, President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Mary Preece, Mayor Crombie, Chancellor McCallion, and representatives of the provincial government. Following the remarks, a ribbon cutting ceremonial marked the expansion's completion.

Interior of the Hazel McCallion Campus Expansion, image courtesy of Sheridan College

The HMC expansion will accommodate 3,200 new full-time students, bringing the Hazel McCallion Campus' total enrolment to approximately 5,500 students. Designed to act as a "living laboratory", the building will include 57 new classrooms, labs, studios, and production facilities, as well as meeting rooms, a cafeteria space, a senate chamber and board room, an innovation centre, and even a book store and art gallery accessible to students and the public.

Interior of the Hazel McCallion Campus Expansion, image courtesy of Sheridan College

The HMC expansion project was built under the watch of Infrastructure Ontario, with funding secured via the Province’s Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model. The expansion and first phase both sit on land owned by the City of Mississauga, Sheridan College operating with a 99-year lease on the site.

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 using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Yesterday evening, March 23rd, ONE Properties hosted the third and final pre-application consultation hosted for their 552 Church Street proposal at the northwest corner of Church and Wellesley in the heart of Toronto's Gay Village. Exactly one month ago, we reported on the second pre-application meeting when seven different podium concepts were presented, the designers looking to hear how attendees felt about their qualities. Following roundtable discussions, members of the community described elements of various podium schemes, looking for them to be integrated into one final design. Copenhagen-based architects 3XN heard the community, and created two final podium designs based on the feedback. In addition, this meeting provided a first look at what will surely be an evolving tower. 

Rendering of Base Option A, windows pushed back, original image by 3XN Architects

Before unveiling the new designs, representatives of 3XN rhetorically asked 'how can the podium activate the corner?' Their answer came in two variations, each one depending upon clusters of pillars to hold a sheltering roof over an open, multi-use, and adaptable space. Both designs offer retail spaces and public gathering place in a space that can be tailored to the season, and one that aims to reflects the value of inclusivity and the aspirations of the Church and Wellesley Village. 

Rendering of Base Option B, windows pushed back, original image by 3XN Architects

Both options place the driveway along the far west side of the site, accessed from Wellesley Street, and providing access to underground parking, garbage pickup and delivery. Both also place the residential lobby just to the east of the driveway, with a small cafe closer to the corner, while four small retail units are found to the north along the Church St frontage. Also included in both plans, the second floor features a large fitness centre and indoor amenity space on the west side of the building. It's at the street corner where things differ.

Ground floor plan of Base Option A, original image by 3XN Architects

Option A features a Privately Owned Publicly accessible Space (POPS) at the corner, providing much improved pedestrian circulation with wider sidewalks, while a "catwalk" runs along the perimeter at the second floor level, offering both another animated interface with the street, and more intimate two-storey public space behind it. On the second level, a restaurant is found at the top of a circular staircase. It takes up nearly half of the floor overlooking Church Street, with its seating area extending onto the catwalk.

Ground floor plan of Base Option B, original image by 3XN Architects

Option B takes a slightly different approach. Its POPS space is fully open to the second floor, a wide staircase-cum-amphitheatre rising at its north end, to be used as seating during programmed events, or casually at any time. The retail space against the "amphitheatre" seating is posed a as "flex retail" space, having the option to range from 126-190 metres square, or about 1,350 to just over 2,000 square feet in size. The second level consists of a market space with a kitchen running the along its west side.

Rendering of Base Option A podium, windows closed on the second level, original image by 3XN Architects

In both options, the third and fourth levels of the podium are proposed as a boutique hotel.

Rendering of Base Option B podium, original image by 3XN Architects

Finally, the proposed tower was finally revealed. 3XN emphasized that this is just a preliminary design and that changes will happen through the course of time, but the current iteration stands at about 40 storeys tall. The tower is divided into four separate stacking masses, with 3XN explaining that they drew inspiration from the existing townhouses in the neighbourhood, and did a conceptualized "stacking" in creating what they are calling the vertical village. 

Renderings of the rental tower, original image by 3XN Architects

Generally, there was support for both podium designs, with attendees appreciating various elements of the initial seven included in the two final ones, while others felt that previous renditions were preferable. As for the tower, there were a number of people concerned with the overall height, saying it's too tall for the neighbourhood, while others argued that its height is appropriate given the site's proximity to Wellesley subway station. 3XN reiterated that the design of the rental tower would evolve through the planning process, while as much time will be focused on getting the ground realm details right.

The next step is for the team is to prepare documents for a rezoning application submission to the City of Toronto, which is expected to take a few months' time. We will keep a sharp eye out for the proposal when that time arrives. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on the new podium and tower designs by leaving a comment in the space provided below, or join in the ongoing conversation in the associated Forum thread. 

Today's Photo of the Day takes us to Toronto's Port Lands area for a sunset view of the Toronto skyline. Submitted to our Flickr Pool by Worrawat Engchuan, this view was captured from the boardwalk at the west end of Polson Street, a popular skyline vantage point.

Sunset over the Toronto skyline, image by Worrawat Engchuan via Flickr

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! 

It's time for Toronto's wealthy to step up for the city; Toronto still more than $7 billion short for transit projects even after federal budget funding; How can Ontario tame Toronto’s ‘dizzying’ housing market?; and more news:

It's time for Toronto's wealthy to step up for the city: Matt Elliott (Metro News)

Historicist: “As Interesting as It Is Timely” (Torontoist)

Toronto still more than $7 billion short for transit projects even after federal budget funding (Metro News)

How can Ontario tame Toronto’s ‘dizzying’ housing market? (Globe and Mail)

Earth Hour wasn’t as dark in Toronto this year (Toronto Star)

One family’s struggle to find decent housing in Toronto (Metro News)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Houston's BG Group Place From the Drawing Board to Reality (Houston)

VW Autostadt the Heart and Soul of Industrial Wolfsburg (Wolfsburg)

The Devil's in the Details for Kushner Companies' 666 Fifth Avenue (New York)

Following on the success of Graywood Developments' Scoop Condos in Toronto's Carleton Village neighbourhood, the developer is returning with the second of three phases, this one situated on the south side of St. Clair between Ford and Osler Streets. Like the first phase, Scoop 2 will take a horizontal mid-rise form with a design by SMV Architects, and will replace a former car dealership building and its parking lot at 1779 St. Clair Avenue West.

Scoop 2 Condos, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Set to rise 12 storeys, and to a height of 39 metres, with the building's floor space index (FSI) measured at 5.41 times the lot area. Scoop 2 would contain a total of 274 residential units above a ground floor containing 1,000 m² of retail fronting onto St. Clair. The unit breakdown is proposed to be 138 one-bedroom units and 136 two-bedroom units.

Scoop 2 Condos, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

The site is bisected by a City-owned laneway running north/south, which would need to be either relocated or incorporated into the project to make it viable. In late-October 2016, a request was submitted to the City’s Transportation Services on behalf of the developer to enter into a land exchange agreement that would allow for reconfiguration of the existing laneway.

Scoop 2 subject site, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

490 m² of indoor amenities are proposed, including 290 m² and 95 m² spaces on the ground floor, as well as a 105 m² indoor space on the 12th floor of the building. These would be complemented by 545 m² of outdoor amenity space in the form of a ground-floor courtyard and a rooftop terrace.

Scoop 2 will be served by a two-level underground parking garage containing 188 parking spaces, with 172 reserved for residents of the development and the remaining 16 dedicated to visitors. 28 bicycle parking spaces would also be housed at grade.

Additional information can be found in the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the filed provided at the bottom of this page.

In 2008, an application to replace a Scarborough strip mall near the southeast corner of Lawrence and Midland with a 425-unit residential community was tabled to the City of Toronto. With heights ranging from five to 35 storeys, plans for the three-building development at 2655 Lawrence East advanced relatively slowly over the coming years, with a deceptively fine-grained retail plaza still fronting the site today. 

The site's fine-grained Lawrence frontage was initially built to house a showroom, image via Google Maps

Located just east of Midland on the south side of Lawrence Avenue, the 11,443 m² site meets Lawrence with a relatively narrow 73-metre frontage. However, the deep, irregularly shaped lot stretches over 170 metres south to the Hydro corridor, making for a deceptively large site. 

The site, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Following an initial re-submission of the plans in 2014, a third submission came before the City in late 2016, with the current application calling for a pair of 20 and 25-storey towers, along with a row of 17 townhouses. Now moving through the planning process, the proposal calls for a total of 408 suites, with a unit mix of 11 bachelor (25), 175 one-bedroom (43%), 159 two-bedroom (39%), and 63 three-bedroom (15%) suites. 

The north and south elevations, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Designed by Toronto-based Stevens Burgess Architects, the project would meet Lawrence with a 20-storey tower fronted by a 5-storey podium, with a pair of retail spaces at ground level.

The west elevation, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Away from the street, part of the ground level would be occupied by a 222 m² daycare centre, which is being included as a community benefit negotiated with the City. (A smaller daycare was initially planned at the south end of the site, though City Staff did not consider a location abutting the Hydro corridor appropriate).

The landscaping plan offers a full view of the site, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Past a landscaped amenity plaza, the taller 25-storey tower at the south end of the site is neighboured by a row of two-storey townhomes, with the tower podium also extending south in three townhome units. 11 surface parking spots are also planned south of the tower, while the Hydro Corridor is set to be met by another outdoor amenity area, planned as a basketball court. 

The east elevation, image via submission to the City of Toronto

A total of 593 parking spots are also planned, the majority of which would be housed in a two-level, 570-space underground garage. 466 spaces would be given over to residents, exceeding a 1/1 ratio of parking spots to units. 105 spaces are planned for visitors, with the remaining 23 spots given over to retail use.

3D aerial view of the site, image via Google Maps

If built, the project would add significant density to what continues to be a car-dominated part of the city—and an area that would in large part be bypassed by the one-stop Scarborough subway extension. Half a block west, however, a much larger project is also being planned, with a nine-tower infill development tabled for the southwest corner of Midland and Lawrence.

A block west at 1380 Midland, a nine-tower intensification project could fill in a tower-in-the-park site, image via submission to the CoT

We will keep you updated as the project continues to advance, and more information—including the identity of the developer(s)—becomes available. In the meantime, you can learn more by checking out our dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment on this page, or add your voice to the ongoing conversation in our associated Forum thread.

As construction nears completion for the first phase of LJM Developments' Waterview Condominiums in Grismby, new renderings are providing more insight into the second and third phases of this Icon Architects-designed community on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Following in the footsteps of the 9-storey first phase, the second and third phases of Waterview will be housed in an L-shaped 15-storey structure, which is being marketed as two separate phases.

Waterview Condominiums' first (right) and second (left) buildings, image courtesy of LJM

Previously planned as a nine-storey building, sales success led to LJM to apply for an additional six storeys of residential density atop the second building. Phase 2 of Waterview will be housed on the first nine levels of the second building, while the recently-announced third phase "Tower Residences at Waterview" will occupy levels 10 through 15. The Tower Residences' 48 condominium units will come in a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and penthouse suites. Along with the 130 suites offered in the second phase, phase 3's contribution will bring this building's total unit count up to 178.

Waterview Condominiums' first (left) and second (right) buildings, image courtesy of LJM

Renderings depicting the development's south facade which overlooks the QEW's North Service Road reveal that the lower floors of the second building have been redesigned to accommodate the new density up above. While the previous design of the second building called for a "single-loaded" layout—with all suites located on the north lake-facing side and hallways situated to the south—the revised design adds windows on the south side at the west end of the second building while preserving the single-loaded layout to the east. The third phase's 48 suites have been arranged in such a way that all units will offer lake views, with half facing northwest, and half facing northeast.

North view of Waterview Condominiums, image courtesy of LJM

We expect to learn more about this addition to the GTHA's commuter-belt housing stock in advance of the Tower Residences at Waterview's planned June launch. In the meantime, additional information plus other renderings of Waterview 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.

On March 22, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the addition of a third track on the Lakeshore East corridor between Beechgrove Drive (east of Guildwood GO) and Durham Junction. This work is being done in support of Metrolinx's Regional Express Rail (RER) plan, which will bring minimum 15 minute service to nearly all GO lines by around 2024.

Planned Lakeshore East service under GO RER, image courtesy of Metrolinx

The Lakeshore East line runs from Union Station to Oshawa GO station, a distance of just over 50 km. For the innermost 14 km, it shares trackage with the Stouffville line, which branches off northward at Scarborough Junction. In order to facilitate the increased rail traffic of RER, there are a series of construction projects that will be taking place along the Lakeshore East corridor.

The first—already under construction for quite a while now—is the East Rail Maintenance and Storage Facility, a 500,000 square foot facility located in Whitby that, according to Metrolinx, "will provide mechanical maintenance, body repair, as well as day-to-day cleaning and operational services; all essential in order to provide backend support for regional rail expansion." Currently, all of these tasks are performed at GO's Willowbrook facility in Etobicoke. However, with the planned service increases under RER, Willowbrook will no longer have the capacity to handle those needs for GO's entire fleet. Passengers on the Lakeshore East line can catch a glimpse of its construction when travelling between Whitby and Oshawa stations. It began construction in 2012, and will be completed by the end of 2017.

East Rail Maintenance and Storage Facility under construction, image courtesy of Metrolinx

The next project is the additional track mentioned earlier in this article. East of Guildwood GO, the Lakeshore East corridor reduces from three tracks to two, leading to what Metrolinx calls a "bottleneck [that] currently creates an operational challenge for the entire line." This operational challenge extends from just east of Galloway Rd to Durham Junction, located just west of Pickering GO. East of that point, the Lakeshore East line runs on dedicated tracks parallel to the CN mainline, on which GO is the sole operator. West of that point, GO shares the Lakeshore East corridor with Via Rail service, which is also scheduled to see service increases in the coming years, as well as the occasional CN freight train.

The reduction from 3 tracks to 2 east of Guildwood GO, image courtesy the Toronto Star

The addition of a third track in this section of the corridor would significantly increase the operational flexibility of the line. Not only would it allow GO to boost overall frequency, but it allows for greater scheduling flexibility when it comes to operating peak period express trains, which this section of track currently limits the timing of. The project also features several grade separations and access improvements, which are shown in Metrolinx's September 2016 presentation to the community. The Request for Proposals (RFP) from selected teams will be tendered this summer, with construction starting later this year and wrapping up in 2023. Information for this project, including the Environmental Project Report and Public Presentations, is available on Metrolinx's website.

Track diagram of Lakeshore East, showing the Study Area and 3rd Track, image courtesy of Metrolinx

The third project in the corridor is the addition of a fourth track between the Don River and Scarborough Junction. The fourth track would be built on the south side of the corridor between the Don River Bridge and Gerrard St, and shift to the north side of the corridor between Gerrard St and Pape Ave, then continue on the north side of the corridor to Scarborough GO.

Track diagram of Lakeshore East, showing the 4th Track, image courtesy of Metrolinx

Like with the eastern third track, this fourth track project is required to support the GO service expansion associated with RER. However, unlike the eastern third track, the added capacity from this fourth track will not be used just by the Lakeshore East line, but also by the Stouffville line and SmartTrack. The Stouffville line will go from the peak-only service it is today to all-day two-way service with a minimum frequency of 15 minutes, a substantial increase to be sure. All of these services will make this inner portion of the Lakeshore East corridor the third busiest on the entire GO system by trips, next to the Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC) and the southern portion of the Georgetown South corridor, which carries the Kitchener, Milton, and Barrie lines, as well as the Union-Pearson Express and future SmartTrack.

Study area for the addition of the 4th track to the Lakeshore East corridor, image courtesy of Metrolinx

While electrification is a substantial component of Metrolinx's RER plan, just switching to electrified trains would have a minimal impact on the GO system's capacity. In order to truly see the benefits associated with RER, a series of track and infrastructure improvements need to be undertaken. It will be this combination of electrified trains and more tracks on which to run them more frequently, at least every 15 minutes, that will truly make the introduction of RER transformational for the GTHA.

We will keep you up to date with any Lakeshore East or RER-related news. In the meantime, you can also join the discussion by visiting our associated forum thread, or by leaving a comment in the area below.

Welcome to another instalment of 2017's Growth To Watch For Series. This segment continues on from our Downtown North tour, starting off in the University of Toronto's (U of T) St. George Campus, then going west on College all the way to Dovercourt Road. From there, we head back downtown via Dundas Street and Alexandra Park. From there we check out development in Queen West, and then it's up to the AGO/OCAD area to see what's coming there.

Boundary of the West of Downtown/U of T Growth To Watch For area, image via Apple Maps

Our first project, a replacement of the McLaughlin Planetarium by the U of T with a new Centre for Civilization and Cultures, is controversial for the fact that it irrevocably seals the fate of the star show and Laserium facility that has been shuttered now since 1995. Though attendance at the facility was apparently less than stellar, the lack of a proper planetarium in Toronto still wounds civic pride. The 1968-built domed building is both a fine example of mid-20th century architecture and a unique structure, but the U of T needs the land.

In the fall of 2014 the school announced plans for a new facility here, which they called a "mega-cultural complex" which would include space for a new Jewish Museum of Canada, a new performance hall for the Faculty of Music, and offices for several other departments, about 13 storeys tall. In January 2016, the school announced that Toronto's own architectsAlliance would partner up with New York's Diller Scofidio + Renfro to design the new facility, but with the Jewish Museum no longer part of the program. This January, City News reported on an effort to preserve the planetarium via a petition has over 7,330 signatures so far. The report also stated that artists' renderings of the new proposal should be ready this summer.

Street view of the McLaughlin Planetarium, image courtesy of Google Maps

Next up at U of T is the Landscape for Landmark Quality project. A competition to redesign the St. George campus was awarded to KPMB Architects, Michael Van Valkenburg Associates, and Urban Strategies in late 2015 to transform the campus to a car-free, pedestrian only space. Circling the historic campus with new paths dedicated for cyclists and pedestrians, and moving parking underground, the project has now been submitted to the City, looking for the enactment of a new St. George Campus Secondary Plan.

Rendering of Landscape of Landmark Quality, image courtesy of KPMB/MVVA

The St. George Campus is expansive, and non-exclusive, blending with other institutions like the provincial government offices of Queen's Park, and the hospitals of University Avenue. Moving through the campus down to 92 College Street, a Victorian house that had been home to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology was demolished in August last year, and for the time being is an extension of the existing surface parking lot on site. This site is part of U of T's Site 14, reserved for future development in the new Campus Master Plan.

St. George Campus Master Site Plan development areas, image courtesy of the University of Toronto

Heading west on College, just across the street from the St. George Campus is the future site of Parallax Investment Corporation's Theory Condos, on the southeast corner with Beverley. The developers appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) based on the City's lack of a decision in the required timeframe. City Council voted to continue negotiating in advance of the OMB hearing, which was held in December last year. While a decision has not yet been made public, marketing for the project has started. We should know soon how close to the 29-storey ask was granted to the developers. Designed by Page & Steele / IBI Group Architects, the development proposes retail and commercial office space in the lower levels, while 309 residential units are proposed above. 

Rendering of 203 College Street, image courtesy of Parallax Investment Corporation

Heading northbound on St. George Street into the campus, the U of T's Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship is about halfway to its final height of eight storeys. Designed by the UK's Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios with Toronto's Montgomery Sisam, the designers are aiming to achieve LEED Gold certification through the use of sustainability features such as solar energy, heat recovery technologies, rainwater capture systems, and natural lighting. Completion is expected later this year.

Rendering of the Centre For Engineering innovation and Entrepreneurship, image courtesy of the University of Toronto

Further north at Harbord Street, the iconic Brutalist Robarts Library is set for a five-storey addition on its west side, while the renovation of other parts of the building continues. Attracting well over 18,000 visitors a day results in the building being over capacity, so the 50,000 square foot expansion will be a much needed addition to the 44-year old Mathers and Haldenby-designed facility. Architectural work is led by Diamond Schmitt Architects.

Rendering of the Robarts Library addition, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt/Mathers & Haldenby

Continuing north, we turn west at Bloor Street. On the northwest corner at Madison Avenue is the site of 316 Bloor West, a proposed 42-storey mixed-use condominium by the State Building Group. Proposed with 535 residential units, retail would be provided at grade level. At the height of 450 feet, this Kirkor-designed building would be the over twice the height of anything in the immediate area. Appealed to the OMB, the City and the developers chose mediation, which took place earlier this month. A further hearing is scheduled for June this year, and we will know later this year at what size of building a settlement has been reached.

Updated rendering of 316 Bloor West, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Another block west at Spadina, construction is well underway one block to the north on the U of T's Jackman Institute of Child Study. Designed by Taylor Smyth Architects, the three-storey facility at 56-58 Spadina will add more classrooms, study space, and faculty offices to the growing experimental primary school. 

Jackman Institute of Child Studies under construction in January, image by Forum contributor Ottawan

Turning around and heading south, a block past Bloor are a pair of 3-storey buildings at 698 Spadina, and where the Spadina and Sussex Mixed Use Residence is in its planning stages. Developed in partnership with U of T and The Daniels Corporation, the project calls for a 23-storey student residence building designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, adding accommodations for just under 600 students once built out. Included would be retail at ground level, while commercial office will be leased out in the podium floors above. This proposal is part of the university's plan to add 2,300 new student residences by 2020. 

Rendering of Spadina and Sussex Mixed Use Residence, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

Across Sussex Avenue to the immediate south, a tower-in-the-park site at 666 Spadina has intensified use planned for it. Owners Cromwell Property Management have hired Page & Steele / IBI Group Architects to design infill developments beside the existing slab tower. The proposal includes a four-storey townhouse development fronting onto Sussex, while an 11-storey mid-rise would be built south of the tower. It would cascade on a 45-degree angular plane to transition to the height of the low-rise neighbourhood buildings to the west. Adding an additional 127 rental units to the site, the proposal has been the brunt of a fair share of NIMBYism from locals angry at the loss of the private green space where the new buildings would rise. 

Rendering of 666 Spadina, image via submission to the City of Toronto

A long block further south, construction is wrapping up in advance of the Fall opening of the U of T's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at 1 Spadina Crescent. While a lot of work is still left on the north side three-storey contemporary addition, hoarding has been taken down around the extensively renovated and restorated 1875 building. With the design of the project by renowned Boston-based NADAAA, Toronto's Adamson Associates Architects, and heritage consultants ERA Architects, the new facility will breathe new life into a recently neglected and dilapidated site. 

Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design under construction in late February, image by Craig White

Doing a 180 around 1 Spadina Crescent, we arrive back at Willcocks Street, and turn east. The U of T has plans for this street that runs between Spadina and St. George, looking to pedestrianize it partly or fully for most of its length in the coming couple of years. You can find out more about the DTAH design for Willcocks Common, here.

Willcocks Common in Summer, image by DTAH for the University of Toronto

At Huron Street we turn south, and in two blocks arrive back at College Street, where from Huron westwards a string of developments are making their way either through the planning process or are already under construction.

Starting off with 231 College on the southeast corner, a proposal by Shiu Pong is currently seeking Site Plan Approval from the City, its zoning having been approved in September 2014 at 17 storeys. Dubbed Design Haus, the Kirkor Architects-designed project will have the facades of a three-storey heritage building incorporated into its base. There will be retail at grade level, with 142 residential units above, 26 of which will be rental replacement units.

Updated rendering of Design Haus, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Across Huron Street to the west is the Lillian H. Smith Library, and immediately to the west of that, 243 College Street. In 2012, owners Baliey & Company submitted a rezoning application for a slender 30-storey mixed-use tower which would have replaced the ornate five-and-a-half-storey brick office building onsite. The project never made it through the planning process, but development pressure makes one wonder if this one might resurface. 

Immediately next door at 245 College, Knightstone's student residence University Place topped-off in 2016, while its grey spandrel cladding is now being installed on the 25-storey building's stout flanks. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, construction will carry on through the coming months in anticipation of a Fall 2017 opening. The building will house approximately 840 beds. 

Construction progressing at University Place in March, image by Forum contributor Salsa

Kitty corner across the intersection with Spadina, Toronto's legendary Silver Dollar Room will be restored as part of the 484 Spadina development by the Wynn Group. In a plan that originally called for a 22-storey mixed-use building designed by Kirkor, negotiations led to a revised plan of 15 storeys, and 303 rental units geared to students. 

Rendering of 484 Spadina, image courtesy of the Wynn Group

In the next block to the west on College on the south side, plans are in the works by BRL Realty to redevelop the auto rental site at 333 College with a 13-storey mixed-use building. Designed by RAW, the proposal would bring 164 residential units to the site.

Rendering of 333 College Street, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Arriving at Bathurst, we take a detour south for one block to where workers recently installed the crane to build the Bathurst College Centre. Excavation is wrapping up on the RioCan project, and construction will begin soon on the Turner Fleischer Architects-designed commercial complex. Its 150,000 square feet on four storeys will be divided into 70,000 square feet of offices and 80,000 square feet of retail. Completion is expected in sometime in 2018. 

Excavation progressing at Bathurst College Centre in late 2016, image by Forum contributor Drum118

Back on College westbound again, the 1910-built Classical Revival facade of the former Latvian House and its adjoining surface parking lot at 491 College is currently under construction. It's to be another new commercial property for RioCan, in partnership here with Allied Properties REIT. Also designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, the building is set to open in Spring 2018, with an LCBO occupying 8,000 square feet on the ground floor. The heritage facade will become the entry to offices on the second and third floors.

Latvian House under construction in late 2016, image courtesy of Google Maps

Two blocks west, midway between Euclid and Manning Avenues, a third Turner Fleischer designed building will soon rise in the area where RioCan and Allied have another 50/50 joint venture at 547 through 557 College. Currently a parking lot and a pair of low-rise commercial buildings, one of the commercial properties is the current local LCBO. Once it has relocated to the 491 College site above, the developers will be able to rebuild on this site, where they plan the 555 College Apartments. The 8-storey building will have two retail suites at ground level.

Rendering of 555 College Apartments, image via submission to the City of Toronto

A pre-application consultation was recently held for a proposal nine blocks further west, at the site at 871-899 College Street, for a seven-storey mixed-use building by the Clifton Blake Group. The development plans include retail at ground level with 120 residential units on the upper six floors, 13 of them rental replacement units. An application is expected to be submitted to City Planning relatively soon.

At Dovercourt Road, we turn south, then turn again at Dundas Street, going all the way east to the site of the Alexandra Park revitalization past Bathurst Street. A major redevelopment by the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Tridel of the land south of Dundas between Denison and Cameron streets, the 18-acre site includes new and replaced rent-geared-to income units, about 1,500 market units, new townhouses, public space, reconnected streets, institutional space, Co-ops, and retail space. Once the entire revitalization is complete—likely in over a decade's time—the project will have over 2,300 residential units.

Early massing model of the Alexandra Park revitalization, image courtesy of TCHC

Amongst the first projects to be nearing completion here is SQ Spadina Queen Condos on Cameron Street. Designed by Teeple Architects, the 14-storey condo is nearing completion, with balcony cladding remaining to install on the exterior, while interior work is in full swing. Residential occupancy should begin within a few months.

SQ Spadina Queen Condos under construction in February, image by Forum contributor agoraflaneur

Shoring work began for the second phase, SQ2, in February, with excavation set to kick off very soon. To be built on Augusta Avenue to the west of its predecessor and also designed by Teeple for Tridel, SQ2 will also be 14 storeys tall, with 169 residential units anticipated. New townhomes for TCHC have already opened on Vanauley Street and the newly built Paul Lane Gardens in association with SQ, and more will come along with the SQ2 work.

Rendering of SQ2 Condos at Alexandra Park, image courtesy of Tridel

Just to the east of Alexandra Park is Spadina Avenue, and in the block north of Queen Street, a proposal to redevelop 170 Spadina—the third proposal for the site in the last half dozen years—was turned down by the OMB recently. Originally proposed by Tri-Win International at 19-storeys, and then appealed to the OMB at 17 after the City failed to make a decision in the required time, the site was sold to Plazacorp in 2015. Plaza continued negotiations with the City in advance of the OMB hearing, but the two sides did not resolve their differences before the hearing. The OMB ruled—in agreement with the City—that the proposal is out of line with the character of the neighbourhood, and that it would not accept anything over 12 storeys, which is equal to the width of Spadina. As there were no renderings released of the Plaza design by Quadrangle Architects, we include an image of the last Tri-Win design by Wallman Architects, at 15 storeys, which would have included 162 residential units. We will see if a new proposal emerges for the site this year.

Earlier rendering of 170 Spadina, image courtesy of Wallman Architects

Now moving eastbound on Toronto's beloved Queen West street, a proposal by The Pearl Group was recently approved to build a four-storey commercial retail and office building on the section of wide sidewalks on north side east of Spadina. Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, the project, in scale with its neighbours, will replace the existing single-storey retail building at 336 Queen West.

Rendering of 336 Queen Street West, image courtesy of The Pearl Group

Just a stone's throw east of this, a Mountain Equipment Coop store will soon replace the large surface parking lot at the east end of this same block. The three-storey mixed-use building designed by Sweeny &Co Architects will be the new location of the MEC store now a couple of blocks to the south on King Street. Along with the two level store, a daycare will be located on the third floor, taking advantage of a roof deck. Fencing went up a couple months ago, and the start of shoring began shortly after. 

Rendering of the Mountain Equipment Coop Store, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Two blocks east and just a few steps north on John St, construction is ongoing at the site of Allied REIT's 180 John St. A 1914 built five-storey red brick heritage building, ERA Architects and Gensler have teamed up to create a three-storey addition to the top of the existing building. Similar to 336 Queen West above, the top of this addition will feature an outdoor terrace for office tenants. 

Construction at 180 John St in February, image by Forum contributor AHK

Continuing north on John St, we arrive at the foot of Grange Park. At the end of 2016, construction work to revitalize the park was 80% complete, with work recommencing in April following a temporary halt at the end of February. Led by Thinc Design and Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, items left to finish include children's play areas, water features, public furniture, the off-leash dog area, and the addition of 60 new trees. Other work includes upgrades to washroom facilities and a new maintenance building, while the controversial relocation of Henry Moore's beloved Two Large Forms from Dundas and McCaul should take place anytime now. Work is targeted to be finished by the summer.

Rendering of the Grange Park Revitalization, image courtesy of Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg

The renewed park will include a more direct access to McCaul Street under OCAD's elevated Sharp Centre of Design. South on McCaul, fencing now surrounds 36 McCaul, where Tridel is now preparing to build Form Condos. Designed by architectsAlliance, the 14-storey condo brings neo-modernist flare to its shifted drawers design, with varying vertical fins playing with light on two floor-blocks of the building. With site clearance just beginning, we should have lots to follow for the construction of this building over this year and next. 

Updated rendering of Form Condos, image courtesy of architectsAlliance

Right across the street at 35 McCaul, a three-storey addition has been approved for a four-storey brick office building. Designed by Giancarlo Garofolo Architect Inc for The Commercial Realty Group, the project will bring increased office space to the site, as well as new retail at grade level. 

Looking east to 35 McCaul by Giancarlo Garofalo Architect for The Commercial Realty Group

Returning to Queen, we turn east again and see across the street,a few steps south of the Rex Hotel, that Smart House by Urban Capital Property Group and Malibu Investments is now on its fifth level of construction. Designed by architectsAlliance with interiors by ll By lV DESIGN, this micro unit condo with special built-ins will rise 25 storeys, and is anticipating a 2018 completion and occupancy. The smallest units in this building will start at 289 square feet, with the largest units at 778 square feet.

Smart House under construction mid-February, image by UT Forum contributor mcornett

Turning north on St. Patrick Street, we soon arrive at the site where Artists' Alley by Lanterra Developments' is set to be built. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, this ambitious project which includes properties at 121 St. Patrick and 234 Simcoe, is working its way through the planning process. Presented at the Design Review Panel (DRP) in February, the latest version is less dense than the first, with the taller towers on Simcoe now 39 storeys and just shy of 400 residential units, and 36 storeys with 310 units.The shorter high-rise on St. Patrick is still planned at 17 storeys and 210 units. The new version includes more public space at ground level, with better pedestrian circulation. Retail is proposed to front the public space, while offices are proposed on levels 2 through 4 of the south tower on Simcoe. 

Updated rendering of Artists' Alley, image courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects

Across from Artists' Alley, we walk through an entrance to Village by the Grange, and emerge on McCaul Street again opposite OCAD University, with two projects here currently in planning. First, OCAD is proposing a major addition and renovation to their main building at 100 McCaul St. The renovation encompasses about 95,000 square feet, while an addition would bring about 55,000 square feet of new space to the building. With architectural work led by renowned Los Angeles-based Thom Mayne of Morphosis, the new facility could become a new landmark to Toronto. With no final plans to reveal yet, a rendering from a massing study by Diamond Schmitt Architects appears below.

Outdated concept of 100 McCaul Street by Diamond Schmitt Architects

Rendering of the Rosalie Sharp Pavilion, image courtesy of Bortolotto Design Architect

* * *

That completes the tour of the U of T area and west of Downtown of our Growth To Watch For 2017 series, leaving us with only two more segments to cover this year. Additional information and renderings can be found in each project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts on any of these developments? Feel free to comment, using the space provided below, or join in the conversation in the Forum thread associated with each project.

Today's Photo of the Day features a rainy view captured from the corner of Yonge and Carlton. Submitted to our Flickr Pool by contributor Vincent Demers, this view faces east from within a bus shelter, focusing on water droplets on the shelter's glass exterior. In the background, an entrance to College Station on the TTC's Line 1 and traffic on Carlton Street add splashes of colour to the shot.

Rainy scene at Yonge and Carlton, image by Vincent Demers via Flickr

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! 

Tory makes unsubstantiated claims in support of subway plan; TTC powers up Line 1 Yonge - University subway extension to Vaughan; How busy will the Scarborough subway extension be?; and more news:

Code Red: Lessons Toronto can learn from housing hell (Metro News)

Housing affordability measures will be in spring budget: Ontario Finance Minister (Globe and Mail)

Tory makes unsubstantiated claims in support of subway plan (Toronto Star)

Urban agriculture sprouting in Toronto condo development (Metro News)

TTC powers up Line 1 Yonge - University subway extension to Vaughan (Transit Toronto)

How busy will the Scarborough subway extension be? (Toronto Star)

Ontario’s electric-vehicle charging network hits speed bumps (Globe and Mail)

Scarborough One-Stop Subway Reveals Mayor Tory’s Political Hubris (Torontoist)

Scarborough riders will be on bus longer with subway option: Study (Metro News)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Forum Finds LXXIII (Global)

Willis Tower Upgrade May Feature Rappelling, Glass "Ledgewalk" (Chicago)

Public Concepts for Toronto Church Street Development Evolve (Toronto)

As construction winds down on Lifetime Developments and INK Entertainment's Bisha Hotel and Residences in Toronto's Entertainment District, new details have been released on the upper level units of the 44-storey, Wallman Architects-designed condominium and hotel tower. Known as the Signature Collection, these luxury suites will occupy levels 38 through 42 of the building, and offer layouts ranging in size from 944 ft² up to 1,363 ft². 

Bisha viewed from King and John, image by Craig White

Bisha was originally approved at a height of 41 storeys before being granted a 3-storey height increase by Toronto's Committee of Adjustment, opening up floor space for this most recent release of suites. As is the case with the rest of the building, the Signature Collection will feature interior spaces appointed by Studio Munge principal Alessandro Munge. For the full picture of the interior finishes and panoramic views, Lifetime has created a fly-through video to tour you through a 3D visualization of one of the Signature Collection suites.

The hotel at Bisha—slated to open this summer—comes with a host of facilities that will make stays for hotel guests exciting while at the same time will build a vibrant social scene for Bisha residents. Some of these include a bar and lounge located on the ground floor, a 24-hour café, and a casual dining restaurant on the 2nd floor.

Bar at Bisha, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

A signature space at Bisha will be the rooftop restaurant, bar and infinity pool, offering sweeping views of the Toronto cityscape. Art to adorn the walls here is still being created—the new rendering below shows a placeholder work—with the intention of creating both a dynamic setting for taking in the amazing city views that will be offered to patrons here, while also making Bisha on the city's skyline.

Rooftop restaurant at Bisha, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

Hotel guests and residents will also enjoy a fitness centre to work out in, while residents will find a number of lavish amenity spaces that are just for them, including a private lounge with catering kitchen and wet bar. Residents will also be able to book many of the à la carte services provided to hotel guests including pet walking and feeding, cleaning and housekeeping services, dry cleaning, room service, and grocery delivery.

Meeting/conference room amenity at Bisha, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

Bisha will mark a major milestone next month when move-ins commence, followed by the summertime hotel opening. The project's presentation centre will be relocating to Bisha, and appointments to visit can be scheduled with Lifetime.

In the meantime, you can check out our dataBase file for more information, linked below. Want to share your thoughts about the project? Leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page, or join in the ongoing conversation in our associated Forum thread.

While Toronto Council debates the Scarborough Subway Extension again today, current transit infrastructure work in this city means plenty of changes for the places that will benefit from new lines, especially where the stations will be. One of the places experiencing a fair bit of upheaval right now is the area around Yonge and Eglinton, where the Crosstown LRT and its interface with the Yonge subway is now under construction.

As part of the work to build the expansive interchange station, last summer the Salvation Army North Toronto Community Church at 7 Eglinton Avenue East was demolished to make way for an emergency exit building and vent shaft. An initial study okayed the retention of the church in its existing configuration, but further exploration of the site by Metrolinx uncovered a number of issues with that plan, ultimately leading to the reversal of position on the church, and its demolition so that the required Crosstown support structures could be built. The Salvation Army moved temporarily into another nearby church, and in the meantime, plans for a new Salvation Army church incorporating the Crosstown structures have been drawn up.

Salvation Army at 7 Eglinton East, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

An application for Site Plan Approval was filed for the site earlier this month, the documents showing that the new church building is proposed to rise four storeys. The 2,756 m2 building will feature a minimalist design by architects IBI Group that references the previous brick-clad two-storey facility. Clad in a combination of curtain wall glazing, back painted spandrel glazing at the slab edges, and a solid wall of dark-hued brick fronting Eglinton on which a large illuminated cross will be mounted.

Salvation Army at 7 Eglinton East, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

The Crosstown infrastructure is being incorporated largely below ground, with a ventilation shaft for the future transit line running below the church facilities and turning skyward at the south end of the site. While part of the same structure, these infrastructure elements are not covered by the current application for Site Plan Approval. Instead, they have been included as part of separate Site Plan Control application for the future Crosstown station.

Diagram of Crosstown support structure locations at 7 Eglinton East, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Visitors to the new church will enter via a street level lobby and Salvation Army exhibition space. The institution's Child Services facility will be situated one level below in the building's basement. Levels two and three will include worship functions, several classrooms, offices, and a 260-seat sanctuary, while the fourth floor would house the building's community service programmes, along with a Fellowship Hall and a kitchen. 
The assembly spaces are generally meant to be multi-purpose. 

260-seat sanctuary in the new Salvation Army building, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

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 using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Since the November 2015 start of construction of Ryerson University's Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex at 270 Church Street, work on the institution's newest educational building continues to progress just north of Dundas Street East. Following the forming of the 27-storey, Perkins + Will-designed building's below-grade levels, construction reached a major milestone earlier this year when work arrived at the ground floor.

Construction of the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, image by Forum contributor WislaHD

In the weeks since the first above-grade construction activity was spotted, much of the building's ground floor has been formed, and work has since progressed to reach the second floor. Over the next few months, crews will continue to form the building's bulky seven-storey podium volume, followed by the start of forming for the tower component.

Construction of the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, image by Forum contributor Kotsy

The facility's podium levels will provide a new home for Ryerson's Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Midwifery Education, the School of Nutrition, the School of Occupational and Public Health, the Communications, Government & Community Engagement department, University Advancement. It will also feature a Food Services area and a Fabrication Zone. 

In addition to providing new educational facilities within the podium levels, the building's tower component will support 100 new student rental units capable of accommodating a total of 332 students. Construction of the building is scheduled to be complete in time for the start of Ryerson's Fall 2018 semester.

Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex, image courtesy of Ryerson University

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 using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Concord Adex's Park Place community has grown quite a bit since the fledgling neighbourhood got its mid-2000s start. Several condominium developments have been built and occupied, while construction is well underway on the next two towers. To the west and north, the Bayview Village area is seeing plenty of growth as well, with several mid-rise developments underway at various stages currently. With the area's population on the rise, a new community centre is being planned at the northwest edge of the community, directly south of Bessarion Station on the Sheppard subway line.

Bessarion Community Centre, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

A design contract for the new facility was awarded by the City of Toronto to MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects back in 2013 as the result of a design competition. An application for site plan approval followed in 2015, before a resubmission last month refined many more details of the new neighbourhood amenity. The 12,342 m² (132,848 ft²) Bessarion Community Centre will rise 4 storeys from the lowest grade on site, reaching a height of 18.9 metres.

Bessarion Community Centre, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

The building will house a natatorium (pool area), a child care centre, an adult lounge area, a fitness studio, a gymnasium, a weight room, a stretching space, a walking track, classrooms, a multipurpose meeting space, and a multi-activity room. The facility would include a relocated 13,000 ft2 Toronto Public Library branch (formerly at Bayview), recreational facilities, and an aquatic centre, all served by a three-level underground garage containing a total of 196 parking spaces.

Natatorium, Bessarion Community Centre, image retrieved from mjmarchitects.com

The exterior finish legend from the planning documents outlines the various materials that will be used to execute the facility’s cladding, including alternating glass curtain wall glazing, zinc composite panels, and porcelain ceramic panels.  

The building's main entrance along Sheppard Avenue will feature a treed entrance court, and a sloped plaza leading to the building's western terraces and walkways. A significant public artwork would be included here too. It's currently the subject of a two-stage national competition. Stage 1 of the process— to select a shortlist of five artists based on artistic merits—was conducted between August and September 2016. The second stage, where the shortlisted artists were paid a fee to develop an art project based on a provided Terms of Reference document, was conducted between September and December 2016. An announcement of the winning proposal has not yet been made, however.

Bessarion Community Centre, image retrieved from mjmarchitects.com

We will return with updates as new information about the project becomes available. In the meantime, you can review building facts and renderings by visiting the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Today's Photo of the Day takes us to Kew Beach at the foot of Leuty Avenue for a view of the Leuty Lifeguard Station. Submitted to our Flickr Pool by contributor Phil Marion, this sunrise view highlights the 1920-built lifeguard station, which stands as a well-known local landmark in Toronto's The Beaches neighbourhood.

Leuty Lifeguard Station, image by Phil Marion via Flickr

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! 

Council pushes Scarborough subway project forward after marathon debate; Metrolinx scraps Eglinton Crosstown gas plant for ‘innovative’ battery solution; Toronto's Corktown cubes are for sale; and more news:

Metrolinx scraps Eglinton Crosstown gas plant for ‘innovative’ battery solution (Toronto Star)

Video: Scarborough Residents Weigh In At Heated Transit Meeting (Torontoist)

Council pushes Scarborough subway project forward after marathon debate (Globe and Mail)

Metrolinx president Bruce McCuaig steps down for new post (Metro News)

Transportation minister won’t say if he pushed for GO station in his riding (Toronto Star)

Ontario to replace Tarion with new regulator for home builders (Globe and Mail)

Toronto's Corktown cubes are for sale (Metro News)

John Tory is serving up a platform for Doug Ford 2018 (Spacing)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Crossness Pumping Station a Watershed Moment for British Invention (London)

China's Second Tallest Building Completes in Shenzhen (Shenzhen)

Aloft Chicago Hotel Begins Construction (Chicago)

This week, SkyriseCities''Explainer' returns with a look at double-skin façades, which are gaining popularity as a tool to ameliorate air flow and energy performance in new buildings. Here in Toronto, the technology has not yet caught on, although increasingly high-performance cladding systems are quickly becoming more common. With sustainability becoming a more central element of design and construction, the introduction double-skin façades could represent another step forward. SkyriseCities has more:

Shanghai Tower, image by Flickr user Xiquinho Silva via Creative Commons

A previous edition of Explainer described how exterior sunshading devices, or brise soleils, have the ability to greatly reduce the solar heat gain of a building. When this particular architectural element is used in tandem with a double-skin facade, energy performance is optimized. Consisting of two building envelopes, an outer and inner layer, a double-skin facade creates an intermediate space that serves as a ventilating cavity, supported naturally or mechanically. The system acts as a thermal buffer that moderates occupant comfort, promoting air flow through the cavity and reducing energy consumption by providing heat in the winter and shading in the summer.

Rob Ford would be happy to know that Scarborough is a bit closer to getting "what it deserves", since Toronto City Council has again voted to proceed with a subway to Scarborough Centre. (The late mayor was fond of telling residents, politicians and media that "Scarborough deserves a subway".)

Yesterday, Tuesday, March 28, Council debated for many hours the proposal to extend the Toronto Transit Commission's Line 2 Bloor–Danforth subway one stop northeast of its current terminal at Kennedy Station. The express subway extension would stretch about six kilometres in a tunnel mostly under McCowan Road.

The route of the proposed subway extension is mostly under McCowan Road, image: City of Toronto

Although Council was considering a City staff report that contained a number of contentious issues—including a recommendation to use private-sector resources to help finance and build the line—councillors mostly focused, instead, on the age-old question of whether to build a new subway or a light rail transit line.

Midtown councillor Josh Matlow pointedly asked the City's chief planner, Jennifer Keesmaat, why she would recommend a subway. Keesmaat replied, "Based on the direction we were given and the fact that we also have SmartTrack in place, then an express subway is the best way to stimulate economic development at Scarborough Centre." (SmartTrack is Mayor John Tory's plan to develop a local rapid transit service along GO Transit lines.)

The City's Scarborough transit plan includes the subway extension, the LRT to U of T and SmartTrack, image: City of Toronto

Matlow is one of the leading advocates for returning to an earlier plan that would have seen a network of LRTs throughout Scarborough. Under that plan, the City would also substitute an LRT for the aging Scarborough Rapid Transit line (SRT), which also connects Kennedy to Scarborough Centre.

The extension of the Crosstown LRT to University of Toronto Scarborough and beyond, image: City of Toronto

When Council originally approved proceeding with the one-stop subway proposal last July, it also approved removing two stops from the extension and using the funds it saved to build an LRT to the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus.

Councillor Janet Davis wondered whether City staff had ever analyzed which line provided the best "value for money"; the subway to Scarborough Centre, or the LRT to U of T.

City manager Peter Wallace replied that Council had never asked staff to compare the two lines in that way, but would, if Council directed him to do so.

Rendering of future Eglinton East LRT station / stop, image: City of Toronto

"Why is the cost-per-kilometre for this line so much higher than the cost-per-kilometre for the extension of Line 1 to Vaughan?", Scarborough Councillor Jim Karygiannis wanted to know. The TTC's chief executive officer Andy Byford explained that the topography for this future line was considerably different than the other line. For one thing, the tunnel has to be much deeper to pass under Highland Creek. That means the stations are deeper too, requiring longer escalators, elevators and staircases. The land for the Line 2 extension is mostly rock, too.

The plan included a two-level bus terminal on Triton Road at Scarborough Centre, image: City of Toronto

Some councillors asked staff to explain the contributions of the federal and provincial governments to the project. Wallace told him that the province had agreed to contribute as much as $1.7 billion for the project. The federal government had also earmarked as much as $8 billion to Ontario transit projects under its infrastructure investment plan. Deputy City Manager John Livey indicated, that based on the City's population and transit ridership, the City of Toronto would gain as much as $4.5 billion to fund local transit projects from that source.

Councillor David Shiner asked staff to include the costs for "roughing-in" a possible future station at Lawrence Avenue East. Staff estimated that this effort would add about $1 million to the total bill for the study.

One Scarborough councillor, Paul Ainslie, remains firmly against the subway proposal. His ward would mostly benefit from the Eglinton East LRT to the university campus and his constituents live far from the subway line. He wanted to make sure that any cost overruns for the subway project wouldn't threaten the future of the LRT line.

The TTC has developed a bus network for the future Scarborough Centre station, image, TTC

Staff have recommended a two-level bus terminal on Triton Road for the Scarborough Centre Station as part of the subway project. The terminal—to cost $187 million—would include 34 bus bays to accommodate TTC, GO, Durham Region Transit and intercity buses. "Would passengers who don't live near the subway have shorter bus rides to get there under this plan?", Parkdale councillor Gord Perks asked. Byford admitted that some passengers would, in fact, have longer bus rides under this plan.

At the end of the debate, Council approved:

• proceeding with the one-stop express subway plan, including a proposal to seek for private-sector sources to finance and build the line. (Council approved this 26 to 18);
• protecting the Eglinton East LRT by considering the subway LRT as one project, with staff to report to Council on an LRT construction schedule in early 2018. (Council approved this 33 to 11); and
• building the two-level bus terminal on Triton Road. (Council approved this 32 to 12).

This rendering illustrates the development potential of the Scarborough Centre area with the subway, image, City of Toronto

Council did not approve Councillor Matlow's motion that staff provide a detailed analysis to compare the subway and LRT plans. (Council voted 27 to 17 against this.) It also defeated Councillor Shiner's motion to design a "roughed-in" future Lawrence station on the extended line. (Council voted 23 to 21 against this.)

With Council approving their recommendations, staff can continue to work on planning the subway. They next report back to council when they've completed 30 percent of the design.

The current budget for the project sits at $3.35 billion, but that figure likely will rise over time. The City must now negotiate with provincial and federal officials to confirm the total amount that the senior levels of government will contribute to the project, so that property taxpayers across the city know soon how much their tax bills will increase to pay for this line.

Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space below this page, or join the ongoing conversation in our associated Forum thread.