We have been keeping a close eye on the construction of Plaza's 50 at Wellesley Station following the late-2015 start of site activity for the 37-storey Quadrangle Architects-designed condominium tower in Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village. In the months since, the mid-block site has undergone shoring and much of its excavation, and the project recently reached a milestone when the south side of the excavated pit bottomed out at three storeys below grade.  

Southeast facing view of the 50 at Wellesley Station site, image by Jack Landau

The site was excavated in tandem with Cresford's Vox Condos to the immediate west. Vox, which was excavated one level deeper than 50 at Wellesley Station, recently had its crane installed and is now rising back up to street level. At the same time, crews on the 50 at Wellesley Station site have begun one last major step that must be completed prior to the pouring of a crane base, in response to groundwater conditions. 

Northwest facing view of the 50 at Wellesley Station site with Vox visible to the rear, image by Jack Landau

Called dewatering, the process involves the installation of wellpoints and tubing around the affected area to pump out groundwater from the soil, a necessity for a safe foundation pour as well as preventing many other long-term issues when a high water table is present. The image below shows wellpoints installed around the south and east caisson walls, and ponding, likely exacerbated by recent rainfall. Once the site is sufficiently dewatered, pouring of the crane base and then foundations can proceed. Once the foundation walls are complete, the dewatering can stop to let the water table return to normal.

Dewatering equipment at 50 at Wellesley Station site, image by Jack Landau

The large quantity of earth still remaining to be excavated on the north side of the 50 Wellesley pit is currently in use as a temporary ramp, allowing personnel and heavy equipment to access the site via Dundonald Street. Once this dirt ramp is removed, personnel can only access the bottom of the pit via temporary stairs, while equipment will have to be lowered in or lifted out using either the coming tower crane, or a mobile crane.

Excavator on the temporary soil ramp, image by Jack Landau

The next major step forward for this project will be the installation of a tower crane, followed by the subsequent rise of the building's 3-level, 163 space underground parking garage containing both spaces for residents and a new public pay parking lot for the Toronto Parking Authority.

South facing view of the 50 at Wellesley Station site, image by Jack Landau

We will be back to watch the process here! In the meantime, additional information about "50" including renderings and several floor plans can be found in the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the conversation? Check out the associated Forum threads, or join in the discussion by leaving a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.