1.2K 
Once a row of stately century homes along St. Clair West, the future site of the 11-storey, Kirkor Architects-designed, ZIGG Condos by Madison Homes and Fieldgate Homes has been developing nicely, the excavation and shoring work proceeding on schedule. Recent images reveal the extent of work done since our last update, which was then a snow-capped pit-to-be, and is now several metres deep, abuzz with activity since the arrival of Spring weather this month.
As profiled in our last story on this project, ZIGG's shoring is continues to grow deeper as excavation continues. Two types of shoring are being used. On the north and west walls, it the pile and lagging system which is being employed to create the walls, a system that is accomplished by driving steel casings into the earth followed by the insertion of vertical steel wide flange beams, or soldier piles. These piles are then secured in place with the addition of horizontal timbers—known as lagging—which can be seen forming the excavation's retaining walls in the image above. As earth is excavated, the horizontal lagging slides down the vertical flange beams, moving along in rhythm with the excavation.
Aiding in this work, as seen in the images above and below, a specialized drilling machine has been busy creating tie-back anchors to support the piles, its drill aimed diagonally into the ground below the next property (tie-back agreements are required with abutting landowners), securing the piles into the earth. The drill was captured in action thanks to the efforts of UT's very own photographer and resident shoring student, Jack Landau.
Crews have now excavated a significant amount of earth, with shoring following the whole perimeter of ZIGG's L-shaped site. The development fits around a modernist mid-rise apartment building in the corner of the L, and then terraces down to a stable low-rise neighbourhood to the south.
Once complete, Zigg Condos will add 166 units to the St. Clair West and Avenue Road neighbourhood, with units ranging from 500-1800 sq ft. With amenity spaces created by The Design Agency including a gym and party room, a large rooftop terrace featuring an indoor bar, lounge space, and outdoor barbecues, Zigg Condos will be on-point with other modern condo offerings in the city.
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 in the space provided at the bottom of this page.
| Related Companies: | Isotherm Engineering Ltd., Madison Group, McIntosh Perry, Ryan Design International |
