Big changes are coming to the corner of Dundas Street West and University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, as over the last few days a tower crane has been hoisted piece by piece to the top of an 18-storey office building that will soon be transformed into a 55-storey multi-use tower. The installation of the crane marks the start of work on Amexon Development Corporation's Residences of 488 University Avenue, which will see a 37-storey condo tower constructed on top of the existing 1968-built office building. Designed by Core Architects, the new development is certainly one of Toronto's most intriguing additions to the growing skyline.

A massive crane on University Avenue hoists the construction crane to the roof, image courtesy of Forum contributor Towered

Brought in to accomplish the lift, a massive Amherst portable crane parked on University Avenue has been drawing attention from crowds of passersby.

The cab of the crane can be seen on the rooftop, image courtesy of Forum contributor ShonTron

The project will include a complete makeover of the existing Brutalist office tower, including an entirely new glass curtain wall, new steel structural bracing, and renovated interiors. The bottom tower will remain for use as office space, while the newly constructed upper tower will be residential. While the garage below the office tower is being deepened for residential parking, a new elevator run will be built up the north side of the tower to take residents up above the offices. A double-height sky lobby on the nineteenth floor will welcome residents and feature over 30,000 square feet of amenities, with interiors created by II BY IV Design Associates. 

A rendering of the proposed development, image courtesy of Amexon Development Corporation.

This exciting new development promises unobstructed and protected views over Queen's Park and the downtown core. The Residences of 488 University Avenue offers a unique take on development in the city, and is an intriguing new addition to the bustling Discovery District. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as Toronto's quirkiest project gets more obviously under way.

Additional information and renderings 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 using the space provided at the bottom of this page.