A year after the September, 2018 start of construction for Menkes Developments' Waterfront Innovation Centre, the early stages of work are fast progressing for the new Sweeny &Co Architects-designed office development. Crews are now forming the underground levels of the 12-storey, 400,000 ft² building soon to rise above.

East end of the Waterfront Innovation Centre site, image by Forum contributor smably

When we last checked in on the site back at the start of June, excavation had bottomed out for the eastern two thirds of the site, while the west section on the opposite side of Dockside Drive was beginning its shoring phase. In the months since, a pair of tower cranes have been installed on the east footprint, which continue to work away forming the site's three-storey, 197-space underground garage.

East end of the Waterfront Innovation Centre site, image by Forum contributor smably

To the west, the smaller footprint across Dockside Drive is still going through its shoring phase. Unlike the east side of the building, the western section will have no underground levels, and shoring rigs continue to drive piles down to the bedrock below upon which the building will be supported.

West end of the Waterfront Innovation Centre site, image by Forum contributor smably

Working towards a 2021 completion date, the project will eventually be home to at least 2,000 workers upon opening, including lead tenant WPP, a multinational e-commerce, advertising, online media, public relations, communications, and branding services giant that will occupy 260,000 ft² of the complex. The project—overseen by Waterfront Toronto—will serve as an integral part of the mixed-use East Bayfront once work wraps up.

Waterfront Innovation Centre, image via submission to City of Toronto

Additional information and images can be found in our Database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment below.

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