6K 
Before its pair of artificial glass-block-clad mountainous forms can redefine a stretch of King Street West, excavation is underway at the site of Westbank Corp and Allied Properties REIT's KING Toronto project. The 16-storey luxury condominium complex marks the first Toronto project by acclaimed Danish 'starchitects' Bjarke Ingels Group, who are working with Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects. We last checked in on the project this summer: four months later, various aspects of the project have advanced, with a large pit now forming.
The site has been active since late 2019, when demolition began to clear away existing buildings, followed by the start of retention work for the project's heritage components. Actual construction activity commenced this past June with the arrival of drilling rigs to begin work on the site's shoring system, the drilling for which has since wrapped up along the site's west end, and portions of the north and south ends, allowing excavation to begin in these areas.
Digging has progressed the furthest in the southwest corner of the site, eventually to reach down four levels below grade, carving out space for the complex's foundations, three levels of garage, and one retail level. To the immediate north of this growing pit, the west end of the site's King Street West frontage is now home to a staging platform, seen with the shadowed strip below it. With the platform now created and held aloft by concrete columns that extend down into the ground below the eventual depth of the excavation, digging can proceed under the platform. The platform will provide space for materials deliveries, reducing the need for costly lane closures as work advances.
That staging platform at the west end of the site will soon be joined by one on the other side of the retained heritage frontages to the east. A shallow initial excavation below the platform's future footprint shows the structural columns that will support the platform.
Meanwhile, demolition and preservation work continues on the site's heritage buildings, with partial demolition happening alongside the installation of structural bracing for the in-situ retentions. Partial retentions include four-storey heritage buildings at 489 and 511-529 King West, and a three-storey factory building set back from the street at 495 King West, which will also include demolition and partial reconstruction. Additional details on which elements are being retained and demolished were covered in our previous article discussing the start of construction.
The complex's "mountains" will have a combined gross floor area of 54,709 m², to be built in a mix of 35,637 m² of residential space, 9,472 m² of retail space, and 9,600 m² of office space. Cladding of walls other than areas for windows will be in glass block.
You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto has a new way you can track projects through the planning process on a daily basis. Sign up for a free trial of our New Development Insider here.
| Related Companies: | Diamond Schmitt Architects, Doka Canada Ltd./Ltee, Grounded Engineering Inc., New Release Condo, Rad Marketing, Rebar Enterprises Inc, RJC Engineers, Unilux HVAC Industries Inc. |
