The development of SmartCentres' SmartVMC, an 100-acre master-planned community, continues. Standing tallest in the area now are the first two towers of Transit City, a joint venture project between SmartLiving (Smart Centres' residential division) and CentreCourt. The high-rise community is one of the single largest elements in the long-term build-out of Vaughan's new downtown. The initial phase of the Diamond Schmitt Architects-designed community is bringing three 55-storey condominium towers to the blocks north of the new Line 1 subway terminus at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station.

Transit City's first three towers rising into Vaughan skyline, image by Forum contributor DarkSideDenizen

We last checked in on construction in November, 2019, when two of the towers had surpassed the 40-storey mark, and the third stood a dozen storeys tall. A few months later, the two furthest along towers recently crossed the 50-storey mark, and are now rapidly closing in on their final 55-storey, 176-metre heights, with just a few residential floors and mechanical penthouse levels remaining. The third tower is now over 20 storeys tall.

Cladding installation follows just a few levels behind forming on the two towers now nearing their peak, while the third tower of the first phase isn’t quite as far along, rising a couple dozen storeys with cladding progressing smoothly. Large sections of the two towers further along in construction are now showing off their final exterior aesthetic, a mix of reflective blue-tinted windows divided by slender vertical mullions in a pattern of staggered white frames.

Transit City's first three towers rising into Vaughan skyline, image by Forum contributor DarkSideDenizen

Meanwhile, as two of the first three towers approach their final heights, the earliest stages of construction are in full swing for the second phase of the community, which will eventually include towers of 35, 45, and 50 storeys. Last summer, work began on the site just east of the initial three towers, with shoring and excavation continuing still. A specialized drilling rig was delivered to the site last year; the first of its kind in Canada, this rig is capable of drilling up to a 3.6 metre diameter shaft and 61 metre deep, with a main winch line capable of pulling 71,000 foot pounds.

Cranes and drilling rigs at the site of TC4 and TC5, image by Edward Skira

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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