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From the early skyscraper era of the late 19th century through the modern skyscraper era that dawned in the 20th century, Toronto's tallest buildings have always been found in the heart of the city in what has become the Financial District. Now, two contenders for the tallest building in Canada are under construction in Toronto, neither located in what has traditionally been the tallest and densest area of the city. North of the Downtown Core, the Bloor-Yorkville skyline will soon be home to possibly the tallest building ever constructed in the country, with work now unfolding at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor for Mizrahi Developments' The One.
Designed by UK-based architects Foster + Partners with Toronto's Core Architects, the project is approved at 85 storeys and a height of 308.6 metres, taller than the current title holder of Canada's tallest building, which since 1975 has been First Canadian Place at 298 metres. While an even taller building recently began construction south of the Financial District—the 312.5-metre SkyTower at Pinnacle One Yonge—Mizrahi Developments have applied for a height increase for The One that would see it top off taller, at 94 storeys and 338.3 metres high.
We've been covering the project regularly as more of its complex engineering is revealed in the form of a hybrid exoskeleton superstructure anchored by a series of eight 40-tonne steel-core, concrete-encased supercolumns. Over the last month, the speed of construction has noticeably increased, and the biggest milestone since our most recent update has been the removal of the central crane, a specialized Link-Belt TG2300B that was delivered by New Jersey-based Cornell Crane & Steel in 2018.
The removal of the crane—no longer required as the project's heaviest lifts were early in the process—necessitated a square void in the floors formed so far; voids which have since been filled in with concrete. You can see the shoring holding up a recently poured section where the void in the third floor slab was, below. Once the concrete has sufficiently cured, the shoring will be disassembled.
Last month also marked a significant turning point in construction speed, being the first month where forming was carried out on multiple above grade levels. Floor numbering for podium levels takes into account the extra-double-high flagship retail space, so the floor currently taking shape above is the fifth. This floor will house the base of the building's central "floated" elevator pit, allowing for the dramatic open retail space below. This fifth floor elevator pit is to be constructed atop a concrete pad that will be poured within a grid of steel beams.
Flanking the tower, a pair of podium volumes provide access to the hotel and residential levels above the building's 12-metre-high ground-floor retail space. The south podium is quickly approaching structural completion, now at its full height above Yonge Street. To the west, the Bloor Street podium—a much smaller footprint containing elevators that connect to the sixth level residential sky lobby—is quickly approaching its final height, rising to the level of the steel skeleton that marks the base of the upcoming tower floors.
At ground level, hardware to secure the massive glass panes around the flagship retail level is now being installed.
Depending upon the outcome of the application to increase The One's height, it remains to be determined if the tower will be a short-term or longer-term holder of the title of Canada's Tallest Building, though the tower's dramatic design and its prominence amongst its surroundings are sure to make it an iconic part of the skyline for generations to come either way.
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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