The King West scene is not for the faint of heart. Mirroring the social environment King West is known for, the cut-throat nature of development in the district has seen many choose to locate themselves in less competitive areas of the city. One project in particular appears to be leading the pack in recent months. Forum member bruvyman captured a great image of the current state of construction at Charlie Condos, developed by Great Gulf Homes at the corner of King and Charlotte, just east of Spadina.
Designed by Toronto firm Diamond and Schmitt, the image above shows building construction somewhere around floor 28 or 29, with an eventual height that will reach 36 storeys. While the building doesn't break from the "Toronto Style" of vertical glass towers, it clearly perfects it. The podium doesn't appear to overwhelm the street, and the glass that has been installed so far reflects the surrounding city perfectly.
Diamond and Schmitt designed a tower composed of seemingly displaced volumes. It appears to have been sliced down the middle and shifted, with the western portion perched above two concrete columns. The lower levels reflect this shift, creating a more intimate resident entrance that is recessed from the street.
Charlie is an example of a level of sophistication in its design that's often hard to find in high-rise condominiums. While it isn't expected to be complete until next year, the quality of the materials is already made evident. Great Gulf Homes is known for well-executed projects such as X Condos, with their highly anticipated Monde and One Bloor East developments in the works.
From the response we've seen so far on the project Forum here we can expect Charlie to be well-received upon completition. Let us know what you think of the project by leaving a comment below, or join the discussion in the project Forum.