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In the heart of Toronto's culturally and historically rich Annex, Cielo Condos continues to progress. Designed by KPMB Architects for Collecdev-Markee Developments, this project at 300 Bloor Street West skilfully integrates the heritage walls of the 19th-century Bloor Street United Church within a modernist architectural framework. With the ground floor staging slab now approximately halfway to completion, it sets the stage for the next phases of this development.
Looking southwest across the site in early April, 2024, the complexity of the staging slab's groundwork is evident. Densely packed rebar juts upward and across, positioned to reinforce the concrete and ensure structural integrity. In the foreground, yellow horizontal walers provide essential stabilization for formwork panels. To the left, construction crews manoeuvre around a series of vertical I-beams. To the right, we see a white mobile crane, its arm extended towards the sky.
A southeast view from right over the rebar mesh emphasizes the labyrinth of meticulously arranged rods which will be the inner strength of the slab. The ribbed rebar is engineered so that it and the concrete surrounding it will securely locked together. Construction crews navigate this steel maze, positioning and tying the rebar together with wire. To the left, two workers focus intently on a row of J-hook rebar, critical in managing tensile stresses within the concrete matrix.
Looking southeast, the construction team prepares for the impending final pours of the ground floor staging slab. In front is the Amherst mobile crane, its boom stretching across the site. Below, the excavation and shoring work is readying for the next phase of reinforcement. In the background, the Tyvek HomeWrap clings to the heritage masonry of the church, a protective layer that shields the stonework from the rigours of construction and the weather.
Looking northwest from Madison Avenue, one block to the west, the historic George C. Pidgeon House still stands — behind the concrete of the Tartu College garage entry — with the aid of a steel scaffold, and amidst renovation and preservation efforts. The ongoing disassembly of Pidgeon House is a at critical phase, focusing on the removal of the existing flooring while safeguarding the structural integrity that defines this Richardsonian Romanesque heritage building, dating back to the late 19th century. Unseen from this distant perspective, crews are busy installing weather protection barriers inside the structure, a proactive measure to shield the interior from the elements and construction debris. Meanwhile, presence of heavy machinery including a CAT excavator, shows work underway on the adjacent KESKUS Estonian Cultural Centre.
In a perspective from above looking east, the Cielo Condos construction site unfolds beneath the spring sky. At this stage, the ground floor staging slab is approximately 50% complete, with preparations underway for the final concrete pours scheduled in early May. In the forefront, the white mobile crane (with a bright red base) marks the view. Along the south side, near the preserved walls of the church, construction materials are organized, adjacent to the shoring walls where tiebacks ensure stability and safety. Off to the left, the ongoing restoration and structural reinforcement of the Pidgeon House can be partially seen.
As work on Cielo Condos continues, the project continues to anticipate a decision from the Toronto Local Appeal Body that will determine whether the building will be allowed an increase of 5 storeys to 34 storeys / 120.35m, and a new total of 349 residential units.
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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