Excavation is progressing at the site of MOD Developments' Massey Tower, a landmark 60-storey, Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed condominium tower coming to Yonge Street across from the Eaton Centre. The development will incorporate a heritage 1905 Canadian Bank of Commerce into its base on a tight site in amongst some of Toronto's most famous performance venues including Massey Hall, the Elgin Theatre, and the Winter Garden Theatre. 

Excavation of Massey Tower and temporary bridge, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor thecharioteer

When we last checked in on the project back in November 2014, a shoring crane had recently arrived on site, marking the start of the building's lengthy construction process. In the few months since, excavation of the building's below grade levels has made quite a bit of progress, now reaching a full storey below grade. The three below-grade levels at Massey Tower will contain bicycle parking and service areas, while residential parking will be provided above ground on levels three through eight, tucked behind the heritage bank facade and sheathed with a special cladding. Due to the tight nature of the site, the above-ground parking garage for the development will be accessed via a car elevator and stacker, eliminating the need for a space-intensive multi-level ramp typical of most condominium parking garages.

Excavation site for the Massey Tower, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor drum118

The narrowness of the site has not just influenced the final specifications of the development, but has also required special temporary measures be put in place for fire exits and the like for surrounding buildings during construction. The rear exits of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres and the Heintzman Building, as well as the laneway known as St. Enoch's Square, are now accessible via a temporary pedestrian bridge clinging to the sides of those buildings around the sides of the construction site. 

Temporary bridge providing pedestrian access from Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres and the Heintzman Building to St. Enoch's Square, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor drum118

We have no doubt that this construction site will become one of the most interesting to UrbanToronto readers as work progresses over the coming couple of years, and we will be back to catch up on milestones here on a regular basis.

The temporary bridge connects to a walkway on the north side of the pit, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor drum118

For additional information including project facts and renderings of the Massey Tower, visit 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.