architectsAlliance is known to Toronto architecture buffs primarily for their soaring glass-clad contributions to the city's skyline, but the local firm is also responsible for a growing portfolio of finer-grained boutique-size developments, including 383 Sorauren Avenue by Gairloch Developments and Centrestone Urban Developments. The 10-storey condominium topped off in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood earlier this year, and in the time since, the building's exterior expression has begun to come together.

383 Sorauren topped off in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood, image by Marcus Mitanis

Much of the structure is now sealed off by reflective windows framed in black mullions, with just the ground floor and the uppermost penthouse level still awaiting glazing installation. The image below also highlights the ongoing installation of floor tiles for the outdoor terrace serving the stepped-back penthouse levels.

Cladding progress on the penthouse levels of 383 Sorauren, image by Marcus Mitanis

Elsewhere on the building, installation of the bricks marks the biggest change since we last looked in on 383 Sorauren. The bricks being used— specially imported from Nebraska for their look—are a combination of Endicott Ironspot Smooth 46, which have a reddish-purple hue and a sheen, alongside manganese ironspot bricks, which are bing inset slightly, creating texture with shadow and a deeper hue.

Ironspot brick cladding on 383 Sorauren, image by Marcus Mitanis

Bill Gairdner, founder and president of Gairloch Developments, spoke about the importance of selecting a quality finishing material for the exterior, saying "this was a large investment over your more standard local brick, but I believed it was critical for the design. There are also over 50 unique brick shapes that had to be custom made to accommodate the aA design. The combination of the unique brick shapes and the special brick type should make quite an architectural impression."

Ironspot brick cladding on 383 Sorauren, image by Marcus Mitanis

As cladding installation on the building's north and east exposures progresses, preparation for brick laying is underway on the south and west facades, with a blue weatherproof coating marking the site of the next brick installations.

Portions of 383 Sorauren's exterior awaiting the installation of cladding, image by Marcus Mitanis

A rendering of the completed development shows what to expect later this year.

Rendering of 383 Sorauren, image courtesy of Gairloch/Centrestone

Additional images and information about 383 Sorauren can be found in the dataBase file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page. 

Related Companies:  architects—Alliance, Bluescape Construction Management, Gairloch Developments, NAK Design Strategies, Peter McCann Architectural Models Inc.