For the fifth time, a building is being constructed across the street from the iconic St Lawrence Market at Front and Jarvis streets in Downtown Toronto. The new St Lawrence Market North Building is being built where most recently the 1968-built North Market stood, it having replaced earlier market buildings built in 1904, 1851, and originally in 1831. To replace the most recent building which was demolished in 2015, the Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Adamson Associates Architects-designed building will host replacement space for the farmers and antique markets that were held in the old building, while the upper floors will provide a modern facility for Toronto Court Services, relocating and consolidating courts from across the city.

St Lawrence Market North, image via submission to City of Toronto

Following the 2015 demolition, lengthy archaeological digs and assessments led to discussions on how to incorporate recovered remnants from previous market buildings, and a re-budgeting before construction could begin. Subsequently, the first contractor Bondfield collapsed, and the job had to be re-tendered. A joint venture of Buttcon Limited and The Atlas Corporation finally got going in 2019 when shoring rigs arrived to begin the construction process.

Facing northwest across St Lawrence Market North site, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

We last checked in on the site this past June, when excavation had recently wrapped up and a tower crane had just  erected at the base of the pit. In the months since, forming has advanced for the first sections of the four-level, 250-space underground garage which will serve as paid public parking operated by the Toronto Parking Authority.

Facing southwest across St Lawrence Market North site, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

With large sections of the lowest P4 level now in place, the first slab forms have been placed for the P3 level. Forming of the rest of the underground level will continue for another few months before construction surfaces. The ground floor is to include a representative section of the 1800s 'porcupine sewer' recovered during the archaeological dig, which is to be on display to the public amongst the north market's vendors.

Facing northeast across St Lawrence Market North site, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

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.

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