The parking lot at 70 Temperance Street near Bay and Richmond has been the site of a number of development proposals over the course of the last decade. Three different tower plans have come and gone, but last year Lifetime and CentreCourt successfully launched INDX Condos. The downtown condominium tower will rise 54-storeys just south of Nathan Phillips Square, and is set to be finished in 2015.

Rendering of INDX Condos viewed from Nathan Philips Square, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments and CentreCourt Developments

This February crews began excavation at the former parking lot for the Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects-designed project. The building will extend five storeys down before coming up for a 4-storey podium designed to complement the neighbouring historic Graphic Arts Building. Above will rise the new tower, defined by its cut-out balcony details, and looking like a giant USB hub.

INDX Condos behind the historic Graphic Arts building, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments and CentreCourt Developments

Although shoring and excavation work has appeared to progress slowly, UrbanToronto contributor AHK points out the site's complex nature in a post in our Forum:

"Before the shoring could be done along the north side of the lot, it was necessary to stabilize the foundation along the south side of the Graphic Arts building. After the shoring was done around the rest of the site, and the first level of excavation was done, a different shoring machine was brought in to drill down and concrete fill a series of small bore holes right at the edge of the Graphic Arts building foundation. Once that was done, the second shoring machine was removed, and the original one (or equivalent) brought back to complete the shoring along the north side of the INDX site. That is why the shoring for the north side can be seen in the photos, indented a little from the lot line, and the edge of the Graphic Arts building south wall."

Given the tight site and the neighbouring heritage structure, the extra care taken here is not surprising.

INDX Condos construction site, image from Forum member drum118

More typical shoring work on the project was done one the south, west and east sides before moving to the north.

Crews continue excavation with foundation supports in place at INDX Condos, image from Forum member drum118

INDX Condos construction site looking west, image from Forum memeber drum118

Crews are now continuing the remaining excavation. Once completed, the project will add 798 homes to the area ranging from studio apartments to family sized 2 and 3 bedroom condominiums. Interiors are designed by Cecconi Simone.

With its soon-to-be prominent location overlooking activities at Nathan Phillips Square, UrbanToronto will keep an eye out for the latest developments. In the meantime, you can check out our dataBase entry below for more renderings and details, leave a comment in the space provided on this page, or jump into the discussion in one of the associated Forum threads.