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In recent years Toronto has consistently ranked at the top of the RBL Crane Index, which tracks the number of operating tower cranes in 13 Major cities across the US and Canada. In 2019, Toronto beat the pack by a landslide with a whopping 120 cranes erected in the city, beating out second place competitors Los Angeles and Seattle by a 71-crane margin. Even more impressive, the figure expands when you include the broader GTA, which brings the figure up by 246 to a regional total of 366! After ranking Toronto’s highest construction sites a few weeks ago, we are following it up with a ranking of the top 10 GTA projects by the total number of cranes. With an aggregate of 42 cranes, the following 10 projects make up over 11% of the region's total cranes.
10 through 6) — 3 Cranes
Time and Space
Beginning construction in 2018, the Pemberton Group project in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood has begun pouring slabs for the building’s underground parking levels. The Wallman Architects-designed Time and Space will rise 29 storeys, house almost 1600 units and cover an entire city block when complete.
Valhalla Town Square
The IBI Group-designed community from Edilcan Development Corporation is seeing its first phase quickly rising, with a 33-storey high rise and two 10-storey mid-rises being active work. A second phase of the Valhalla Town Square project was recently submitted for Site Plan Approval.
The Brixton
Just north of Queen on Dufferin Street, Fitzrovia Real Estate and CentreCourt have been constructing the Brixton, a trio of mid-rise buildings housing 398 units. The three-craned operation is seeing cladding installation moving up the Graziani + Corazza-designed buildings.
Transit City
Just north of Toronto’s borders at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station, is Transit City by CentreCourt and SmartLiving, the recently renamed residential arm of SmartCentres. The project is well off the ground with the first three phases of the Diamond Schmitt-designed project each home to its own crane. The fourth and fifth phases of the project have both seen site clearing in recent months.
Garrison Point
Also mentioned near the top of our tallest construction sites list, there are two -side-by-side components to the Garrison Point project; condos from Cityzen, Diamond Corp, Fernbrook Homes and Greybrook Realty Partners, and the Novus rental towers from BentallGreenOak. All towers are Hariri Pontarini-designed; the condos are topped off and exterior cladding is being finished, while the rental towers are still rising to their final heights.
5 and 4) — 4 Cranes
M City Phases 1 and 2
In central Mississauga, Rogers Real Estate and Urban Capital Property Group have begun above-grade construction on their multi-tower M City project. Designed by Core Architects, phases 1 and 2 will eventually house a combined 1,577 condo units, and are seeing their podium levels formed now.
Mirvish Village
In central Toronto, Westbank is constructing Mirvish Village where Honest Eds and its neighbouring Mirvish-owned shops on Markham Street used to be. The Henriquez Partners-designed project is seeing below-grade forming in most areas. The project will bring 806 purpose-built rental units, retail, and public space to the site.
3) — 5 Cranes
Woodbine Racetrack Hotel and Casino
The development of the lands beside the Woodbine Racetrack Grandstand comes in third with 5 cranes. The multi-use project will expand the existing racetrack facilities with a casino expansion, concert venue, hotel, new retail and office spaces, and soon the creation of a new GO Station. Designed by CGL Architects, the facilities are currently just at grade.
2) — 6 Cranes
Sugar Wharf
Six cranes mark the Menkes' Sugar Wharf site on Toronto’s waterfront. The first phase of the project is under construction with the 100 Queens Quay office tower designed by B+H Architects and first two condo towers designed by architectsAlliance now progressing above grade. A second phase of the multi-tower community is planned to the west.
1) — 8 Cranes
The Well
Topping the list for the largest number of cranes is The Well, a project often referred to as Toronto’s largest construction site. Developed by RioCan, Allied, Diamond Corp, Tridel, and Woodbourne, the project is an entire mixed-use community spreading across what was previously one of Toronto’s most underdeveloped city blocks. The proposal features an office tower and ground floor retail designed by Hariri Pontarini, high rise residential towers designed by architectsAlliance, and mid rise residential buildings by Wallman Architects. The project has 8 cranes (1 for each of the 6 residential buildings and two for the office tower) bringing everything together.
Additional information and images can be found in our Database files for the projects, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment below.
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