As May of 2014 came to a close, an excavation pit was growing on Downtown Toronto's Adelaide Street West, just east of Bathurst. Almost three years later to the day, and Plaza's 17-storey Musée Condos is virtually complete, with public realm elements taking now shape as residents continue to populate the Quadrangle-designed condominium. 

Excavation pit in May 2014, image by UT Forum contributor Red Mars

Adding significant residential density—and an infusion of public space—to a reasonably prominent Downtown site, the project is one that we've followed fairly closely here at UrbanToronto, tracking the construction from the early stages all the way to its imminent completion. 

Excavation in October of 2014, image by Jack Landau

Following the excavation process—which bottomed out in late October of 2014—labour-intensive work on the project's below-grade levels commenced. Although the lion's share of the below-grade work was not visible from the street level, forming of the lower levels tends to be a lengthy part of the process.

P2 level forming in January of 2015, image by Jack Landau

It was approximately a year into the construction process when the entirety of the Musée site reached grade in April of 2015, rising almost in lockstep with Harhay's Core Architects-designed oneeleven Condominiums next door—itself a recently completed 17-storey project.

Fronting Bathurst, oneeleven rises in front of the Musee site (left), image by Jack Landau

In the following months, the steadily rising lower floors quickly gave the development a street-level presence, with the shape of the future park becoming visible at the southeast end of the site. Accessible via the narrow north-south Adelaide Place laneway, as well as a galleria space that cuts through Musée from Adelaide, the public park introduces 8,000 ft² of community space to the neighbourhood. 

Musee podium levels in June of 2015, image by Camil Rosiak

Throughout the latter half of 2015 and into the first days of the new year, the 17-storey building quickly became a part of the local skyline, topping off in early 2016. Just seven months after reaching grade, Musée was at full height, with the comparatively quick tower forming process following a year of below-grade work. 

The park site in September 2015, image by Craig White

By January of 2016, cladding covered much of the building's lower levels. Meeting Adelaide, black precast cladding now lined the seven-storey streetwall volume. For the seven-storey middle volume above—itself topped by a narrower three-storey element—while precast was beginning to be installed.

Construction progress in March 2016, image by Jack Landau

In late April of last year, the tower crane was disassembled. By this time, only the final glazing panels were left to be installed across the building envelope, with balcony glass set to follow. Throughout the latter half of 2016, finishing touches were being applied to the exterior as the majority of work moved inside. 

Aerial view of Musee and oneeleven (l-r) in January of 2017, image by Jack Landau

Appointed by Bryon Patton and Associates, the amenities gradually started to open in the early months of this year, with our February tour highlighting the closing stages of interior construction. Seen below, the completed and furnished lobby was among the first amenity spaces to open.

The lobby, image by Jack Landau

With work on the building now all but done, the public realm improvements—most significantly the galleria and the park—remain the last element of the project still under construction, while two retail spaces are also set to open.

The galleria in March, image by Jack Landau

Most recently, our March update showed significant progress on the public realm elements, and we will be sure to return in the Summer to get a look at the park and galleria fronting the completed Musée Condos. In the meantime, more information is available via our dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment on this page, or join the ongoing conversation in our Forum.