The rapid growth of the area south of the rail corridor known as 'Southcore' is bringing scores of businesses and thousands of residents into what has become a successful mixed-use neighbourhood. Over the course of the last decade, the many parking lots that once blighted the area have succumbed to a gradual extinction, giving way to a modern, high-density extension of Toronto's more traditionally defined 'Downtown' north of the tracks.

Downtown Toronto and the "south core" blending seamlessly, image by tomms

Occupying a full city block bounded by York, Bremner, Simcoe and the rail corridor, the KPMB and Page + Steele / IBI Group Architect-designed Southcore Financial Centre & Delta Toronto will add a total of 1.4 million square feet of office space plus a 47-storey four-star hotel to this burgeoning community. 18 York, the first phase of the Great West Life and bcIMC development, was completed in early 2012. Standing 26 storeys and clad in an impressive mirror-finish dark glass, the tower is seen as a sign of the high quality materials expected for the rest of the development. 

Southcore Financial Centre & Delta Toronto viewed from the north, rendering courtesy Great West Life/bcIMC

The second phase of construction, which consists of the 30-storey Bremner Tower and the 47-storey Delta Toronto Hotel, is well underway and has been well documented by a number of Urban Toronto’s many avid photographers. In the images below, provided by forum members SkyJacked and Miscreant, the Delta tower, with its chevron-shaped south façade, appears to be about 14 floors towards its goal of 47. Although the Bremner Tower is only on the 6th floor, it certainly is not falling behind: pouring concrete for the much larger floorplate of the office tower takes a significant amount of time in comparison to the Delta next door.

Delta Toronto at Simcoe and Bremner, image by Miscreant

Bremner Tower at Southcore Financial Centre, image by Miscreant

Southcore Financial Centre & Delta Toronto, image by SkyJacked

Located within steps of some of Toronto’s most popular attractions and venues, Southcore Financial Centre & Delta Hotel Toronto will breathe even more life into an already bustling mixed-use community once completed in 2014. 

Southcore Financial Centre & Delta Toronto viewed from the west, rendering courtesy Great West Life/bcIMC

For more information and renderings, check out the dataBase listed below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Visit the related forum thread, here.