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Construction continues on the new KING Toronto luxury condominium complex designed by world-renowned Danish 'starchitects' Bjarke Ingels Group with Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects, while Westbank Corp and Allied Properties REIT have given future suite owners a peek at the unique cladding that will make up the building's luminescent walls.
Upon our last update in July, forming of the P3 and P2 levels was taking place at the west end of the site. Now, those same levels have nearly been completed across the entire footprint of the site. Forming of the remaining parking areas and below grade retail level will continue for another few months before the complex reaches grade and then begins to rise behind the preserved heritage facades that front King Street West.
Last week the developers invited purchasers to an event in northern Vaughan where they could get a close-up look at a physical mockup of the structure's exterior. The materials include glass block with a mirrored back coating for walls that are opaque on the interior, creating depth and radiance when the sunlight hits them.
In other places, the glass block will be translucent on both sides, allowing daylight in for residents or providing a glow on the exterior at nighttime. While the glass block provides good insulation, so do the windows and glass doors which are all assembled from three layers of 6mm low-iron glass: the spaces between the panes are argon-filled which is good for sound insulation as well as allowing very little heat transference.
The completed project will feature a mountain range-influenced massing finished in glass blocks and greenery, incorporating multiple heritage building fronts along King Street West. The KING Toronto façade is inspired by both the form of Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67 and the luminosity of Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre.
The highest points of KING Toronto will be 16 storeys and 57.6 metres high, with the complex having a gross floor area of 54,709 m², in a mix of 35,637 m² of residential space, 9,472 m² of retail space, and 9,600 m² of office space. The complex will bring 514 new condominium units to the area.
You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like, 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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| Related Companies: | Diamond Schmitt Architects, Doka Canada Ltd./Ltee, Grounded Engineering Inc., New Release Condo, Rebar Enterprises Inc, RJC Engineers, Unilux HVAC Industries Inc. |
