1.8K 
Construction has reached grade at the latest phase of the Universal City development in Pickering, marking the start of above-grade work for towers dubbed UC6 and UC7. Designed by KIRKOR Architects and Planners for Chestnut Hill Developments, the two towers will rise 26 and 37 storeys on the east side of the site near Sandy Beach Road and Celebration Drive in the city east of Toronto, adding to the growing density near Pickering GO station. The new phase follows the completion of earlier buildings in the community — UC1, UC2, and UC3 — which stand at 17, 28, and 31 storeys.
In this close-up nighttime view of the site's northeast corner in June, 2025, work was focused on the installation of the first of two crane bases. A mat of rebar is laid out below the crane footing, reinforcement for the structural base that will be formed after concrete has been poured and cured. Here, a mobile crane stabilized by outriggers is lowering the steel base section into position. Crews can be seen guiding placement to coordinate the installation.
In July 2025, a mobile crane parked at grade was hoisting mast sections, with several more sections lying on the ground to the left, waiting their turn. At the bottom of the excavation — to become a three-level underground garage — foundation pads, column bases, and forming panels are distributed below a future tower footprint. A green telescopic handler and a yellow excavator operate within the pit, while the surrounding shoring walls, secured with tie-backs, define the site perimeter.
By August 2025, both cranes were in place, with the second crane installed further south. Foundation work for the garage is advancing with a section of dense rebar mats, formwork, and active crew operations concentrated between the cranes. Around the first crane to the left, concrete columns are rising from the foundation, with projecting rebar ready to tie into the next level columns when they are formed.
In this image taken in October, 2025, a grid of reinforced concrete columns is now established around the south crane, while the ramp leading from the second below-ground level to the bottom level has been formed.
Looking northwards from an adjacent Universal City Pickering tower this month, the west end of the site has reached grade. The slab-on-grade is now established, with rebar, formwork systems, and construction materials staged in an organized layout in preparation for the first structural pours. The completed UC1, UC2, and UC3 towers frame the site to the west and south.
UC6 and UC7 work has transitioned to at-grade construction, with reinforced concrete walls now formed around each crane. The taller north crane is positioned for the 37-storey UC7 on the left, while the shorter south crane serves the 26-storey UC6 on the right. Across the slab, formwork, rebar, and construction materials are staged, while on the north end, decking is in place for portions of the second-floor slab.
Once complete, UC6 and UC7 will reach heights of 75m and 114.4m and deliver a combined total of 758 condominium units.
Future phases UC4 and UC5 are planned to rise 46 and 54 storeys, bringing the tallest buildings to the north end of the site.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on these developments, but in the meantime, you can learn more about them from our Database files, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversations in the associated Project Forum threads or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto's research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe—from proposal through to completion. Other services include Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
