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As skyscrapers continue to redefine urban horizons, The One is emerging as the crown jewel in the transformation of Toronto's Bloor-Yorkville skyline. The construction site at 1 Bloor Street West continues its upward climb, reaching the second mechanical section this week. This ambitious project — led by Mizrahi Developments and designed by the combined architectural prowess of Foster + Partners and Core Architects — continues to capture attention.
From a perspective looking southeast across Bay Street on August 9, The One reveals its most recent accomplishment — work has reached the top of the first set of 18 residential floors and has started on the next mechanical section. Covering the busiest construction areas, blue protective panels wrap both the highest levels so far — with the tower's progress now at the 37th floor — while about 10 storeys below where work on the corner section os each floor follows, more blue panels protect those areas from the elements and workers and materials from falls.
To the left of The One, above, One Bloor East stands across the street, its presence adding a dramatic flair to Toronto's cityscape, symbolizing the ongoing dance of architectural prowess as The One ambitiously climbs to surpass it.
Moving closer to the heart of the action on Yonge Street, our attention is first caught by the flurry of activity at ground level, where green and white tarps shield the intricate cladding work. To the left, The Uptown Residences stands as a reminder of architectural legacies, while to the right, One Bloor East is a more recent accomplishment, setting the stage for The One’s unfolding tale amidst this ensemble of architectural feats.
The One will showcase a unique design: sequences of (generally) 18 floors punctuated by two-level mechanical sections. With hangers supporting corner plates every six storeys, the structure is now beginning to align with what we see in the renderings; the lowest section of retail, restaurant and hotel floors and first mechanical section have been structurally complete for several weeks, with the first residential section reaching to the second mechanical section now. Two more full residential sections are to come along with two more mechanical sections before a final shorter residential and crown will top the building.
UrbanToronto Forum contributor Benito, on of our ever-reliable lenses on this project, provides an insightful perspective on the intricacies of the second mechanical section. A construction crew member stands three storeys below the blue panels, bringing scale of The One — its floor to ceiling heights, and its expansive floor plate, stretching over 900m², stands out, especially when compared to the city's average of around 750m². Observing the crew amidst the vast sea of blue panels and the prominent corner hangers provides a humbling perspective on the sheer size of the project.
At the historic intersection of Yonge and Bloor, where past meets present, our gaze instinctively rises, captivated by the tower's ascent. As vehicles rush and pedestrians stream, the tower stands watchful, an emblem of Toronto's evolving urban aspirations.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, 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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EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was republished with official renderings of the now approved 91-storey version of The One.
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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.
