As construction ramps up at Daniels Waterfront—City of the Arts, we take a closer look at some of the creatively oriented amenities set to be included in the project, one which is shaping up to be one of Toronto's most transformative waterfront developments. The first phase of the mixed-use complex, which is now beginning to take shape on the south side of the site along Queens Quay East, will bring 280,000 ft² of commercial office space to the waterfront.

A rendering of Daniels Waterfront - City of the Arts, image courtesy of Daniels

Taken together, the commercial and residential components of Daniels' City of the Arts will house new facilities for creatively oriented non-profit organizations such Artscape, The Remix Project, and Manifesto. In addition, Daniels is working on developing a 240,000 ft² post-secondary space as part of the project in collaboration with OCAD University and George Brown College, as well as a 150,000 ft² 'Creative Industries Hub.' The project will also contribute $3 million to Toronto's public art, with a $2 million investment earmarked for the site itself.

The office complex at 130 QQE, image courtesy of Daniels

Meanwhile, the RAW-designed phase one office development known as 130 Queens Quay East, will bring 51 office condominium suites—as well as a new headquarters for Daniels—to the growing area. In recent years, the surrounding area has already seen neighbouring projects like Corus Quay and George Brown's Waterfront Campus inject an innovative commercial presence to the previously industrial waterfront. For its part, the two-tower office complex will feature highly customizable office floorplans—which can be configured to create both formal and open-concept spaces—as well as an impressively curated collection of amenities. 

An overview of the 9th floor amenity area at 130 QQE, image courtesy of Daniels

On the 9th floor of the complex, a large shared amenity space will be available to all commercial tenants (above). Straight from the elevator, tenants will enter 'The Hub,' an elegant yet relaxed communal lounge and kitchenette area designed for casual networking, coffee breaks, and informal meetings with clients. For more formal meetings, two boardrooms will also be available. While the sleekly modern 'Mindspace' boardroom will offer a formal boardroom setting, the more casual 'Spark' boardroom—outfitted in playfully vibrant colours—will foster an informally collaborative creative process. 

The 9th floor's interior amenity area will step out to a 4,900 ft² wrap-around terrace, which will feature a barbecue area, seating, and outdoor Wi-Fi. Panoramic views of Lake Ontario make for a pleasant space for entertaining clients or taking a break from the workday. The design and shared nature of the amenity spaces may amplify effects of a geographical cluster of creativity, creating a dynamic and vibrant commercial zone.

The site on January 9th, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor UrbanHarbour

With excavation reaching its full depth in December, the beginning of the new year has seen a second crane raised on site (above). As construction progress continues, we will return with regular updates and photos of site activity. In the meantime, 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 using the space provided at the bottom of this page.

Related Companies:  CCxA, Cecconi Simone, Clark Construction Management Inc, Counterpoint Engineering, Cushman & Wakefield, Giannone Petricone Associates, Isotherm Engineering Ltd., Kramer Design Associates Limited, Live Patrol Inc., NAK Design Strategies, Precise ParkLink, RAW Design