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The buzz of the early stages of construction at Queen Central condominiums in Downtown Toronto is palpable. Spearheaded by Parallax Investment Corporation and Harlo Capital, UrbanToronto last reported on the project designed by Arcadis — the Amsterdam-based global firm that acquired Toronto-based IBI Group in Fall 2022 — four years ago when modifications to the design of the 34-storey tower aimed to better separate the new tower visually from the preserved heritage walls at ground level. Located on the northeast corner of Queen and Mutual streets, the design marries modern aesthetics with the area's heritage fabric.
Demolition of some parts of the existing structures and heritage preservation of other parts got underway in 2021, continuing into mid-2022, with steel scaffolds in place by August, 2022 for the sections of wall that would remain in situ during redevelopment. Looking eastward, below, in November, 2022 we see a long-reach excavator, equipped with a claw, dismantling portions of the old roof. The western building has been demolished, laying bare the interiors of these vintage sites. The facade retention scaffolds stand firm — these temporary green bracing structures protect the heritage facade along Queen Street.
An aerial view of the construction site that same month reveals the preliminary stages of backfilling. A red dump truck dispenses crushed aggregate over the site's surface, providing a level ground for shoring rigs that will be here next. Adjacent to the west, parts of the construction site for 88 Queen Street East can be seen. A neighbouring development, it will ultimately overshadow the Queen Central with its 51 storeys.
By March of 2023, excavation work was then several meters below ground. A tieback rig dominates the image, there to secure the growing retaining walls into the surrounding substrate.
Looking southward later in March, a lone yellow excavator sits atop mounds of excavated earth. Glasshouse Lofts looms overhead behind the heritage walls. Green steel bracings tie the walls to the scaffold to the south, while the walls are wrapped in a white protective tarp. Yellow shoring struts and timber support the excavation at grade.
In April, looking northeast across Queen and Mutual, we gain a panoramic view of the site. The heritage facades on the western and southern fronts remain supported by the facade retention systems. Safety scaffolding and site hoardings line Queen Street. In the backdrop at centre, the\ profile of the Hyatt Centric and 203 Residences on Jarvis is discernible under its crane.
Peering southwards into the excavation, yellow excavators work to clear the remains of a ramp down into the pit; one digs within the pit while another operates at grade. Timber lagging buttresses parts the southern excavation wall adjacent to the heritage facade, while most of the shoring wall is made of concrete caisson. Tieback anchor rods protrude from the walls at regular intervals. Affixed at an angle, they can be discerned reinforcing the excavation walls at two levels.
Looking to the southwest in July, we can see significant strides have been made in both excavation and sub-grade construction. The crew has placed construction materials below, and the crane's base and tower are firmly established near the western perimeter. In places, rebar awaits encasement in concrete positioning, while lowest level concrete walls have been completed in others.
As of mid-August, the below-grade work continues. Covering the right third of the background of the image, 88 Queen Street East now towers, marking the passage of recent months and the transformative narrative of the locale.
Set to rise to 106.23m, Queen Central will bring 369 residential units to the site, adding vibrancy to the neighbourhood.
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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