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Over the year since UrbanToronto's last update on work at Queen Central condominiums, significant progress has been made, going from excavation to structural work above grade. Nestled in Toronto's Garden District, this 34-storey mixed-use development designed by Arcadis for Parallax Investment Corporation and Harlo Capital highlights how developers are merging modern residential living with the city’s heritage; as construction progresses on the tower, the project preserves heritage facades as part of the podium.
Work on Queen Central reached grade by January, 2024. The image below captures concrete columns positioned around the central tower crane. The foreground is arranged with construction materials, while to the right, the preserved heritage facade at 98 Queen Street East is secured with white protective tarp and a scaffold retention system facing Queen Street.
By April, 2024, the building's north and west elevations had reached four storeys. Shoring posts lining the upper storeys help maintain structural integrity. The retained brick masonry of the heritage walls of 3 Mutual Street is prominently featured behind its scaffold. It contrasts with the more contemporary facade of the Glasshouse Lofts behind it to the right. To the right, we can also see signs of a step-back above the third level, for the transition from the podium to a recessed wall of windows that will serve as a ‘reveal’ dividing the historic base and modern tower.
As of this month, nine storeys are now formed along the south and west elevations. Decking is in place below the ninth level on the Queen Street elevation. Formwork is actively ongoing on the 10th floor, with concrete walls being spotted to the left of the tower crane and on the southern end of the building. A construction hoist is operational on the west elevation, facilitating the transport of materials and personnel. On the west elevation, a blue modular formwork system by Iron Forming is visible at the eighth level. The heritage facade at 3 Mutual Street is now protected by green netting around the scaffold.
Looking west along Richard Bigley Lane on the north side of the site, we see the east and north elevations. The latter features a concrete parapet along the edge of the fourth storey slab, behind which is a terrace for the outdoor amenities. On the east elevation, another concrete parapet is evident above the eighth level, for another step-back that facilitates the transition to the main tower volume. In the background to the right, the ongoing construction of 88 Queen climbs high beyond the frame.
Looking southeast, the initial work for wall installation is now visible on the second floor of the north elevation. The brick masonry of the lower levels will be interspersed with tall windows. Up top on the 10th level, a concrete boom pump is positioned to the left of the formwork. At street level, a red telehandler stands parked behind the fencing, and behind it, concrete buckets are placed atop scaffolding.
Upon completion, Queen Central's 34 storeys will stand at 106.23m tall, delivering 369 residential units to the Garden District.
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.
