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Three years after its ground breaking ceremony, 55 Charles Condos has topped off and nearly completed its building envelope. Situated at 55 Charles Street East in Toronto's Bloor Yorkville area, the 50-storey tower from MOD Developments with a design by architects—Alliance has made its presence known in an area heavy with development and vertical growth.
A southeast view captured in June 2021, one year after the ground breaking ceremony, allows us to peer into the excavation pit and observe the progress made. The excavation walls are predominantly covered by orange tarps, with wooden lagging visible underneath and across the north elevation. A prominent blue tower crane is centrally located on the site, surrounded by concrete walls to the south. To the north of the crane, a series of concrete columns, each reinforced with vertical rebar, are aligned in a row, marking the ongoing construction activities.
By May 2022, the project has ascended approximately seven storeys above grade. Looking southwest, the view showcases the initial design elements of the tower; the six-storey podium is set to be enveloped in a combination of curtain wall glazing and aluminum panels, with two step-backs incorporated as the podium transitions to the tower. The tower itself will exhibit window wall panels interspersed with glazing and strips of aluminum paneling, laying the foundation for its distinctive aesthetic.
Fast-forward to April of this year, and the design envisioned in the renderings begins to materialize. The tower, viewed from the east, is nestled between existing structures at the intersection Charles Street East and Church Street. The tower's design initially called for a sawtooth balcony pattern, but this was modified in its resubmission with a vertical striated design, punctuated by horizontally striped volumes that are either inset or projecting. The building's cladding, a blend of window wall panels, glazing, and aluminum strips, has been installed more than halfway up the tower so far, with glazed balcony guards evident in the projecting boxes.
An aerial perspective from July provides a comprehensive view of how 55 Charles integrates into its urban context. The emerging black tower on the right is marked by its tower crane. To its north, the construction of The One, the colossal 91-storey tower at Yonge and Bloor Streets, is underway. Although impressive in its own right, the 50 storeys of 55 Charles will soon be overshadowed by The One's towering presence, which is currently progressing through its second mechanical section.
A September aerial snapshot displays the topped-off tower. The project has advanced to the mechanical penthouse stage, with cladding installation pending for the remaining two storeys. The distinctive pattern previously noted is becoming visible along the south elevation, with groupings of white-shaded balconies starting to stand out. However, these are partially concealed by a yellow hoist aligned along that elevation. The tower's dark cladding creates a striking contrast against the lighter window cladding of neighbouring structures.
Upon completion, this development will stand at 167m and add 665 units to the neighbourhood, contributing to the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of central Toronto.
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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