The forces of renewal and revitalization are alive and well in Toronto, and properties that were not considered prime targets for new buildings a short while ago are now bursting with activity. One of those sites is just around the corner from the junction of Spadina and Queen—two of Toronto's most vital streets—where Tridel's SQ Condos is now a 11 storeys high, and work is continuing upwards. The cubist-inspired, Teeple Architects-designed development is now just a few levels shy of its final 14-storey height, while the installation of cladding has begun on the lower levels. 

SQ viewed from Cameron Street, image by Craig White

The cladding now being installed takes the form of a combination of silvery-white anodized aluminum panels accented by dark-tinted window wall panels framed in black mullions, and appears very true to the pre-construction renderings released to market the project.

Detail shot of cladding on SQ, image by Craig White

Cladding now covers much of the building's first two floors, providing the first real-life hints of how the structure will appear once complete. 

Cladding covering much of the first and second floors of SQ, image by Craig White

According to the renderings, the neutral tones should soon be accented by the addition of colourful yellow splashes on the inner walls of balconies.

Rendering of SQ Condos, image courtesy of Tridel

Ground level photos reveal that framing has been installed at the building's main residential entrance on Cameron Street. The entrance area breaks away from the cubist aesthetic of the surrounding structure with a curving frontage sheltered by a similarly curving overhang.

SQ's residential entrance on Cameron Street, image by Craig White

As construction of SQ presses on, sales are now in progress for the second phase, SQ2. Like the first phase, Tridel's SQ2 will feature a cubist-inspired design by Teeple Architects. SQ and SQ2 are the first two market condominiums being built as part of the revitalization of the City of Toronto's Alexandra Park community, a master planned initiative spearheaded by Tridel and Toronto Community Housing. Close by SQ meanwhile, the finishing touches are being added to the LGA Architectural Partners-designed Atkinson Co-Op replacement townhouses on both Vanauley Street and an as-yet-unnamed new east-west street linking Vanauley and Cameron, as seen in the image below.

Atkinson Co-Op replacement townhouses on a new street in Toronto's Alexandra Park, image by Craig White

Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase files for SQ and SQ2 Condos, 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:  Tridel, U31, Unilux HVAC Industries Inc.