We have been keeping a very close eye on Plaza’s Ivory on Adelaide for quite some time now, and you can't blame us as the construction is occurring just a few dozen feet outside the UrbanToronto worldwide headquarters. The 22-storey, Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed condominium is just about topped off, with crews currently finishing up the mechanical penthouse level up top.

Ivory as seen from the Distillery District, image by Forum member Razz

Ivory is a departure from the “glass box” style of condominium popular in Toronto, drawing its name from its distinctive white precast concrete exterior. The pigmented concrete cladding (yes, white is s pigment!) has climbed well above the 7 and 10-storey podium and is starting to make an impact on the tower floors above.   

Ivory viewed from the east, image by Forum member ChesterCopperpot

Contrasting the white precast cladding, a sleekly dark-tinted glazing is gradually sealing out the weather on the building’s lower floors. The choice of window treatment colouration makes both the windows and the precast pop.

Cladding at Ivory, image by Forum member ChesterCopperpot

Cladding at Ivory, image by Edward Skira

Despite the building's topping off being just around the corner, it will still be many months before the 358-unit condominium tower sees its first residents. When completed Ivory will bring both new retail and a landscaped front courtyard to this formerly strictly commercial strip of Adelaide Street East. Bit by bit, building by building, Downtown Toronto's hard edges are becoming more inviting, more vibrant, multi-use neighbourhoods with projects like Ivory.

Ivory neighbourhood context, image by Forum member Razz

For additional information and renderings, visit our dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or voice your opinion in the comments section provided at the bottom of this page.