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Two years have flown by since UrbanToronto last reported on the rise of 980 Lansdowne Avenue in Toronto’s Wallace-Emerson neighbourhood. Since then, Neudorfer Corporation has branded the residential rental development 'The Diamond,' and the three towers now boast colourful cladding. All three towers are structurally complete, with the tallest now leasing, while the shorter 12-storey building has the farthest to go still, and work continues of a couple rows of modern townhomes. Additionally, the design by Gabriel Bodor Architect includes a one-storey daycare facility in the northwest corner, adding to the development's colour palette with its unique exterior.
In August, 2023, the standalone 12-storey rental building on the left had reached its mechanical penthouse, with its concrete floors and columns showcasing the protruding balconies on the west elevation. A Tower crane is perched at the top, with red safety fencing and shoring posts lining the storeys. To the right, the two larger towers — 29 and 36 storeys rising from a shared seven-storey podium — display their advanced facades. The distinctive window wall system is near completion, featuring burnt orange and cream-coloured spandrel panels, sharply framed by contrasting black mullions.
In October, 2023, significant progress was seen on the easternmost townhomes. The image shows the application of a dark grey brick on the northern elevation. To the right, the west elevation is in an earlier phase of exterior finishing, where the underlying weather-resistant barrier is exposed and prepared for the subsequent application of brick. The window pattern reveals reflective glazing, framed by dark trim that complements the brickwork. The wooden scaffolding along the edge of the roofline indicates ongoing work on the facade and roof elements.
At the start of this month, construction of the one-storey daycare facility nears completion, showcasing its distinctively coloured exterior. The facility features a modern, geometrically bold gable-roofed structure, with vibrant blue glass panels that create a lively facade. The glass is segmented by sleek black mullions that emphasize the angular design. Adjacent to the glass, the lower sections of the building to the south exhibit a colourful panel system, adding yellow and light green, making for a playful childcare environment.
The standalone building is now prominently advanced, seen here with extensive cladding and glazing work visible on its north elevation. The elevation features a series of step-backs along its western volume to the right, with projecting balconies along the east elevation and corner inset balconies to the south. The glazing consists of a repeated pattern of reflective glass panels installed between white and grey cladding. To the right at street level, the first step-back reveals exposed concrete, outlining the location of the garage entrance leading to the underground parking.
Looking southwest, the construction of the townhomes at the north end has made significant progress. The townhomes, characterized by their modern gray brick exteriors, display a uniform and neat arrangement of windows. Blue weather-protective coverings shield some of the doorways to the right, indicating ongoing work for the covered entrance, including the wooden fencing along the stairways.
Finally, we come up close to the eastern tower along Lansdowne Avenue highlighting the unique facade. The tower's checkerboard pattern of spandrel panels features black mullions that frame each glass unit, with horizontal and vertical black lines separating the colourful panels. Each floor includes cantilevered balconies with glass guards, finished with a solid base that matches the cream colour scheme, for a cohesive look across the facade.
The three towers range in height from 37.37m to 101.14m, with The Diamond providing a total of 960 new residential units to the area.
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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