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To close out 2021, we are taking a look at the 10 most popular UrbanToronto Database Files, Forum Threads, and News Stories from across the entire year.
Over the course of 2021, many dozens of new project files were added to our Database, and countless more active projects were updated with new images, associated companies, and numbers. As the year unfolded, these were the files that UrbanToronto readers looked up the most!
10. 19 Duncan
With a lot of attention being paid to this building now that its noticeably high quality cladding is being applied, Westbank and Allied REIT's19 Duncan popped up into out Top Ten list this year. The redevelopment of a five-storey heritage office building at Duncan and Adelaide streets in Toronto's Entertainment District will result in nine storeys of office space above a ground floor reserved for restaurant and retail, with rental apartments on the 11th through 57th storeys–while 40 hotel suites will be found on floors 52 through 55 of this Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed building. ERA Architects are overseeing the heritage restoration component.
It takes a lot to pull many of UrbanToronto's readers away from their focus on Downtown Toronto (all of the other Top Ten projects are located there), but this project easily has what it takes to grab attention. Taking the ninth spot in our lineup is M1 and M2 of M City — a new condominium community from Rogers Real Estate and Urban Capital located in the heart of Mississauga at Burnhamthorpe Road and Confederation Parkway. The uniquely-shaped towers designed by Core Architects with an accordion-like appearance, are about 50-storeys above grade now, nearing their 60-storey goal. With construction progressing quickly, it's no wonder the database has been checked up on a lot over the past year!
8. Mirvish Village (Honest Ed's Redevelopment)
Rising from a site that includes the former footprint of the iconic Honest Ed's retail block, the mixed-use, multi-building Mirvish Village project is now well above grade at Bathurst and Bloor, its highly detailed cladding now being installed on some of the further-along buildings. Designed by Henriquez Partners Architects and Diamond Schmitt Architects for Westbank and Peterson, as construction continues, plenty of curious eyes have landed on the project's database file.
Coming in at #7, developers the Madison Group and Westdale Properties have stated that Nobu Residences Toronto will be dedicated to distinguished luxury, incorporating historical facades from the Pilkington Glass Factory. Designed by Teeple Architects with Turner Fleischer Architects with ERA Architects handling the heritage components, the residences will feature 700 condominium suites in two 45-storey towers and a podium. The ground realm will boast retail and hotel spaces, including a Nobu restaurant, while the ultra luxury Nobu Hotel suites will be found on six storeys at the top of the west tower.
Climbing two spots from last year's list, 160 Front West has landed in the #6 spot. The new, uniquely shaped Cadillac Fairview-developed office complex has recently begun to show its first curves on its lower levels. As the AS + GG Architecture and B+H Architects-designed tower's structural steel skeleton continues to rise, the canted exterior of the billowing sail-like building is becoming more obvious, with its western-and-easternmost steel posts leaning out on lower floors, and now about 20 storeys up, leaning back inwards. As a result, our members have been keeping a close eye on the project — rightfully so!
Gaining one spot from last year's list, Sugar Wharf Condos has come in at #5 this year. The first phase of Menkes Developments' Sugar Wharf Condos remains popular as the two-tower architects—Alliance-designed complex continues to rise above Lake Shore Boulevard East. Interest in the project has grown over the last year, as the individual towers have broken free from their podium — on their way to 64 and 70 storeys — and the first patterned balcony guards have been applied.
4. CIBC SQUARE
CIBC SQUARE from Hines and Ivanhoé Cambridge has retained its #4 spot, keeping the interest of many UrbanToronto readers. The WilkinsonEyre Architects and Adamson Associates Architects-designed complex's 49-storey first phase South Tower has now been completed, and is home to the fully-functioning Union Station GO-bus terminal. The project page will remain hot for years to come, as work is still in the early stages for the 50-storey second phase to the north.
3. The Well
Clearly still a favourite among UrbanToronto readers, The Well has also maintained its high-ranking spot from our 2020 list. The seven-building complex at Front and Spadina celebrated many construction milestones in 2021, keeping the project's database file in our top 3. Developed by a large team of developers — RioCan REIT, Allied Properties REIT, Diamond Corp, Tridel, and Woodbourne Canada Management, Inc, and designed by several architects each taking responsibility for different portions — Hariri Pontarini Architects, architects—Alliance, Wallman Architects, Adamson Associates Architects, and BDP, we expect that interest will remain high, as buildings within the complex continue to climb and be completed, and a sweeping canopy is installed across the public spaces.
Unsurprisingly, Pinnacle One Yonge has not budged from its #2 spot. The 2020 start of work for the Pinnacle International-developed complex's skyline-altering 95-storey condo tower generated plenty of buzz, and its ongoing construction and the topping off of the first 65-storey tower has kept the project at top of mind in 2021… and then the phase 2 and 3 towers were redesigned as shown below, brining even more attention and resulting in the complex's stronghold on the second to top spot in our list. Both new and previous designs are by Hariri Pontarini Architects.
1. The One
Not loosening its grip on first place, is none other than The One. This comes as no surprise, as the supertall luxury condo tower from Mizrahi Developments at Yonge and Bloor has risen significantly over the past year. With UrbanToronto readers anxiously waiting for the Foster + Partners and Core Architects-designed tower to be completed — although not anytime soon! — the project's database has remained a hot spot for readers and forum members to get their fill of info on the iconic development.
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