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Construction at Cielo Condos shows no sign of slowing in the cooler weather. Developed by Collecdev and designed by KPMB Architects, the eventual 29-storey structure will incorporate the heritage walls of the Bloor Street United Church along with Pidgeon House, dating back to 1888, at the northeast corner of the site. Collecdev aims to preserve the historical roots of the site, once a Presbyterian congregation in the late 19th century, while also providing luxury living at its prime location between St George and Spadina stations on TTC Lines 1 and 2, situated on the edge of the University of Toronto's St George Campus.
Since our update in October, when bulk excavation was set to begin for the parking levels, progress has steadily advanced.
This view looking east unveils a blue excavator in action, its bucket attachment busy relocating soil at the site’s eastern extremity. The ongoing bulk excavation for the parking levels, situated south of the TTC tunnels, commenced in mid-October 2023, laying the groundwork for the forthcoming tieback installation, which is scheduled for November 2023.
Looking southeast, we see an excavator removing dirt from a partially excavated divot, with I-beams standing tall along the excavation wall, now fully integrated into the site’s framework. Adjacent to the excavator’s bucket, rebar cage protrudes from the top of columns formed in the ground below, with an another protruding column visible behind.
Stepping back for a wider view another recent day, the construction site is abuzz with activity as a crew operates a blue drilling rig, positioned at an angle, ready for foundational work along the east elevation's caisson wall. Nestled in a carved divot within the terrain, the rig is employed in boring operations, a crucial step for the installation of pilings.
As the calendar flipped to November, the vertical drilling for the caisson wall and structural caissons was completed, leading to the demobilization of the heavy machinery from the site. Concurrently, the basement excavation of the Pidgeon House reached completion, with tradespeople now actively installing the sophisticated retention system set to securely uphold the existing heritage house. Meanwhile, the venerable facade of the heritage church continues to be enveloped in Tyvek HomeWrap, a robust weather-resistant barrier, ensuring the historic structure’s protection from moisture.
Looking southwest, the site reveals two blue excavators encircled by wooden fencing on the site’s west side. The excavation wall on the western flank of the site is punctuated by vertically installed I-beams, standing sentinel as the site prepares for the upcoming initiation of the temporary ground floor staging slab, anticipated to commence before the year’s end, subject to the progression of excavation and tieback installation activities.
Boasting 284 residential units and reaching a final height of 99.00m, Collecdev aims to seamlessly blend modern luxury with Toronto’s rich cultural fabric.
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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