Before the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games brought Toronto a new neighbourhood, the first development to rise in the West Don Lands area was the first phase of Urban Capital Property Group's River City Condos. The Saucier + Perrotte Architects and ZAS Architects-designed condominium development acted as a primary catalyst for the growth of this fledgling neighbourhood, while also creating an architectural landmark on a plot of land that had sat dormant for decades. Captured back in May of 2013, this view from the Queen Street Viaduct highlights first phase of River City well under construction, topped out at 16 storeys and partially clad. In the left background, The Gooderham in the Distillery District could be seen approaching its final 35-storey height.

First phase of River City under construction in 2013, image by Marcus Mitanis

Jumping ahead to October 2016, the west-facing view from the Viaduct has been further transformed with the addition of River City 2 (or RC2), which obscures the now-complete The Gooderham. Standing to the immediate south of the first phase along River Street, the 12-storey RC2 is divided into three interconnected volumes, a modern spin on the classic slab apartment building typology. Further to the west, new additions to the skyline include the Globe and Mail Centre on Front Street East, and the rising Harbour Plaza Residences condo towers in the South Core area.

Phases 1 and 2 of River City, October 2016, image by Jack Landau

We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto!

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