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Since UrbanToronto's last update over a year ago, the buildings of Queen & Ashbridge have topped off in The Beach in Toronto's East End. Construction on this mixed-income community has been ongoing for the past two years. The project is a collaborative effort by Context Development, RioCan Living, and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), with a design by Teeple Architects.
As of this month, the 10, 16, and 17-storey volumes have topped off, and cladding is mostly completed, but in December, 2023, below, the west elevation of the 17-storey building had twelve levels substantially formed, with some formwork spotted at the north end of the twelfth floor. The exterior features white pre-cast panel cladding enveloping the first two storeys, and tan-coloured insulation panels are installed on the initial floors towards the southwest corner. The construction hoist is seen on the south elevation to the right.
Looking northeast in June, 2024, the cranes have been disassembled for the topped-off 17 and 16-storey volumes, seen at the left and centre of the image, respectively. Cladding and glazing are well underway, covering the shared podium and ascending to cover most of the first eight storeys of the taller building and 10 storeys of the other. To the right is the separate 10-storey TCHC building, serving as the replacement units for the demolished RGI buildings that occupied the site before its redevelopment. The TCHC's building's storeys are fully formed, with cladding and glazing completed for the first six storeys, with that work continuing on the seventh storey.
This top-down view focuses on the western 17-storey building at the bottom, along with the completed cladding and glazing up to the tenth storey on the 16-storey building. Between them, a central courtyard that will be known as "The Urban Forest," a landscaped area designed by Public City Architecture, that will feature wood-plank pathways. The complex exhibits many step-backs, gradually transitioning up from Queen Street East towards Woodbine Park. The 8-storey base building along Queen to the left ties the complex together.
This month, a street-level view from Queen Street East looks southwest to the eastern 16-storey volume. The lower levels feature pre-cast brick cladding across the first five storeys, punctuated by white panels to the right at the centre of the elevation. Step-backs above the 8th, 10th, 11th, and 15th storeys contribute to the ziggurat-like geometry.
This close-up view along Queen Street East showcases the complex's volumetric massing, articulated with randomized step-backs as it rises, creating terraces and a series of volumes. Scattered precast brick cladding sections appear among the predominating white aluminum cladding, with the exterior further articulated on the right by expansive glass panels ascending the first four storeys. By the right edge, white and blue waterproofing and bare concrete wait for finished cladding to be applied.
The mid-rise volume fronting Queen Street East stands at a height of 27.2m, while the towers ascend to 56.9m and 60.15m. Altogether, the mixed-income community will provide a total of 367 condo units, plus 95 market rental units, 138 RGI replacement units, and 32 affordable rental 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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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
