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While a consistent stream of applications is a key factor in meeting demands from our ever-growing population in the long term, tangible results in the shorter term are delivered through a later step in the development process; construction. With new projects starting every week in the Greater Toronto Area, there is always news to catch up on, so today we have a roundup of the latest construction starts over the last short while.
A project that has been top of mind for development enthusiasts for years is now officially in the construction stage, with shoring beginning on the site of the first-phase tower, slated to rise 73 storeys above King Street West in the heart of Downtown. Developed by Great Gulf, Dream Unlimited, Westdale Properties, the two-tower project's 'stacked boxes' design from Gehry Partners is set to propel the development to become one of the most distinct presences in the Toronto Skyline.
McMaster University: McLean Centre For Collaborative Discovery (Hamilton)
Hamilton's largest University is continuing to improve their campus with construction getting underway on a new building that will deliver a number of exciting new programming opportunities. A 10-storey design by Sweeny &Co Architects, the building will include a plethora of mixed-use spaces including lecture halls, a new library, office space, study halls, and a media production studio.
Developers Kaitlin Corporation are now in seeing the start of below grade forming as they work towards delivering a total of 440 new condo units in the eastern GTA municipality of Clarington, just beyond Oshawa. The two-building project consists of a pair of 12-storey mid-rises designed by Chamberlain Architect Services, and is a representation of the current model for residential intensification in GTA satellite communities.
The grounds of an existing 'Tower-in-the-Park' style apartment complex in Midtown Toronto have transformed into an active construction site as shoring work picks up for an infill development from the team of QuadReal Property Group, BentallGreenOak, and bcIMC. The 31-storey project designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects will add an additional 263 rental units to the property, with the design having an irregularly-shaped floor-plate to make best use of space available on the site.
The Toronto Police Service's 41st Division, located in Scarborough's Birchmount neighbourhood, will soon be enjoying a new headquarters now that construction is finally underway to bring to life the new station project that has been on the table since 2014. With a budget of nearly $39 million, the final design by WZMH Architects will bring a two-storey building with a long sloping roof being a defining elements.
Excavation work is now well underway on a commercial project led by Enbridge, with the company repurposing a large industrial site a short distance east of the planned East Harbour transit hub. The project will see the construction of a three-storey office building designed by WalterFedy, and has been designed to accommodate a potential height increase in the future, should the space become necessary.
Also under construction in the Birchmount area of Scarborough is a residential mid-rise project from Stafford Developments. With shoring completed, the project has advanced well into the excavation process, and will eventually see forming work begin to construct a 9-storey building designed by Kohn Partnership Architects and IBI Group, adding a supply of 203 new condo units.
Finally, a small-scale townhouse project from Merit Homes, located in Moore Park, has advanced into construction, and will deliver a continuous row of five three-storey townhouses designed by RAW Design. While no site images are available at this time, it has been reported that the project has been excavated, and is now seeing forming work on the first level.
That's all for today's roundup of construction starts; don't miss our next story coming later this week providing a roundup of the latest construction completions!
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on these development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about them from their respective Database files, 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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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
