CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - DECEMBER 15, 2020
12/15/2020
Construction Update
Dear neighbours,
Below is a brief update on the CIBC SQUARE project:
Construction at 81 Bay Street
As we near completion of Phase I of CIBC SQUARE, 81 Bay Street, we have accomplished a number of key milestones. We have turned over majority of the office floors to the incoming tenants to install fixtures and tailor finishings in preparation for occupancy, as well as completed dismantling some of the equipment on site, including one of two cranes and the man and material hoist we used along the outside of the building. The curtain wall is also nearly complete, with exception of the crane and hoist infills. Our crews are now focused on dismantling the last tower crane and completing the building’s core elements, including elevator and escalator installation, landscaping and installation of planned public artwork. Looking ahead, we expect low-rise floors to take occupancy at 81 Bay Street in February 2021, with higher floors slated for March 2021, and the food hall expected to open in Q3 2021. These timelines are subject to change based on actual progress on-site.
We’re also pleased to announce the Metrolinx Bus Terminal has opened at 81 Bay Street. More information about the new terminal is available here:
https://www.gotransit.com/en/stations-stops-parking/union-station-bus-terminal
Overbuild Park
As Phase 1 work for the overbuild park proceeds, we’re also excited to share that we’ve completed several areas of work, including: installation of all 45 foundations and caps, installation of the maintenance deck, tree cells and concrete slabs, concrete curbs, fireproofing and the pavilion curtain wall. Ongoing work includes waterproofing and heat tracing, as well installation of guardrails and decking. Phase 1 of the overbuild park is expected to be complete in late summer 2021.
Work for Phase 2 of the park will include structural steel installation as well as installation of the underside metal deck. This work requires access to the active rail corridor, and as such, for safety this work will proceed overnight when trains are not in operation.
Upcoming construction at 141 Bay Street
Demolition of the existing structure at 141 Bay street has commenced. This demolition will prepare the site for shoring and excavation work targeted to begin in February 2021.
Community Open House
We recently hosted a virtual open house to address questions related to current construction and upcoming plans for 141 Bay Street. For those who missed the presentation, below are some of the topics addressed:
What is being planned for Phase II construction at CIBC SQUARE?
141 Bay Street will add 1.5 million square feet of office space in a 50-storey premier office tower, anchored by incoming tenant CIBC. The new building will be connected to Phase I of CIBC SQUARE (81 Bay Street) by an elevated public park that bridges across the rail corridor. Planned public realm improvements as part of the 141 Bay development include two pedestrian bridges connecting across Bay Street directly into Union Station and across Yonge Street directly into Backstage Condominiums, as well as a fully renovated pedestrian laneway connecting Yonge Street and Bay Street.
When will construction start?
Demolition started in December 2020, with shoring & excavation planned for February 2021. Construction of the second half of the park, the new tower and podium are expected to be complete in Q4 2024.
Will there be overnight work?
Overnight work remains necessary for the construction of several elements of our project. As we are building in an active rail corridor, we are not allowed to have construction personnel or equipment on the rail corridor when the trains are running on the tracks. This means we are only permitted to work at night, when train traffic has slowed. When overnight construction is necessary, we are committed to completing the work as quickly as possible and keeping our neighbours informed. We are working closely with our contractor, EllisDon, to expedite this work, and to reduce as much as possible the impact of the noise for our neighbours.
How loud will construction be?
While any construction site poses noise challenges, there are unique challenges with a project this complex. We commit to working with our neighbours to keep you informed and where possible take steps with our contractors to limit noise. We will make every effort to give advance notice when overnight or noisy construction is required.
Is Phase I (81 Bay Street) complete?
Construction of 81 Bay Street is nearing completion, with tower occupancy expected for Q1 2021. The new Metrolinx GO bus terminal at 81 Bay is also now open and operational. The first half of the elevated park and the 81 Bay Street food hall are expected to be complete in Q3 2021.
Will there be any retail stores in the CIBC SQUARE buildings, other than food, similar to the office buildings currently in the PATH?
Given planned retail space is limited, we have prioritized food & beverage offerings for the employees of the building and the community. We may also include select service retail offerings, such as dry cleaning, within the teamway in the future.
Will the public have 24/7 access to the elevated park once it’s completed?
At a minimum, public access to the elevated park will be from 6am – 10pm (7 days per week) in the summer months, and from 7am – 9pm (7 days per week) in the winter months. Hours for special dates and events will be addressed on an as-needed basis.
Will dogs be allowed in the park?
While we are still finalizing pet access and park operations, there will be a dedicated relief area for service dogs as part of the complex.
Will there be a connection to Pinnacle (33 Bay/12 Yonge/ 16 Yonge) from the new buildings?
No direct connection to Pinnacle is currently planned. At this time, we are unsure whether future developments may include connections to Pinnacle.
How will you address overnight safety in the building and in the park?
The park will be closed during the night. We are in the process of finalizing the safety and security plan for the building, however there will be a holistic plan in place with 24/7 security.
Will there be public car parking?
There will be approximately 350 parking spaces, the majority of which will be reserved for CIBC SQUARE tenants. There will also be public paid parking after-hours, such as for events at Scotiabank Arena.
Contact Us
We remain committed to keeping the community informed as we proceed with construction at CIBC SQUARE. Please contact us at any time at
community@CIBCSQUARE.com with comments or questions.
