Developer Pinnacle International has applied to Toronto's Planning Department for Site Plan Approval (SPA) for the first phase at the 1-7 Yonge redevelopment, the highly-anticipated Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed complex. Located at the Toronto Star Building site at the foot of Yonge Street, the development will eventually add five towers to the Toronto skyline—including Canada's new tallest building—on a parcel of land bisected by an eastern extension of Harbour Street.

While the long-awaited supertall tower would be situated on the west side of the north half of the site, the recent SPA covers the first phase, a 65-storey mixed-use building on the east side. The tower will rise to a height of 204.2 metres, with a gross floor area of 59,546 m³. The mixed-use complex is proposed to include condominium suites, affordable rental housing units, 1,075 m² of grade-related retail units, and a community centre within the podium levels.

Phase 1 of the 1-7 Yonge redevelopment, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

The community centre will serve residents not just of the first phase tower nor the 1-7 Yonge development as a whole, but of the existing Harbourfront area and of the emerging East Bayfront neighbourhood too. Boasting 4,772 m² of space, the community centre will be found on the first and second levels of the podium, and will include a pool and gymnasium amongst other facilities.

Phase 1 of the 1-7 Yonge redevelopment, partial elevation, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Phase 1 will contain 693 residential units, consisting of 113 affordable rental units and 580 market condominiums. Residents of the condo units will have access to 1,853 m² of indoor amenity space and 1,386 m² of outdoor amenity space on the 7th floor of the building. Phase 1 of the multi-tower development will be served by a six-level underground parking garage containing 642 vehicular parking spaces and 748 bicycle parking spaces. The garage will gradually grow to serve all three phases on the north block.

Phase 1 of the 1-7 Yonge redevelopment, south and west elevations, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

As details for the first phase emerge, an Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning Application remain to be ratified by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Toronto City Council endorsed a settlement with Pinnacle in 2016. The OMB meting is scheduled for February 14, 2017.

Phase 1 of the 1-7 Yonge redevelopment, north and east elevations, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

Want to know more about the redevelopment at 1-7 Yonge? UrbanToronto's dataBase file for the proposal includes renderings of earlier versions. You can see them by clicking below, or visit the associated Forum thread to get in on the discussion of the project. You may also leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

Construction is progressing on the new dealership for Grand Touring Automobiles as it outgrows its current location at 740 Dupont Street. This is the latest addition to the emerging hub of luxury car dealerships straddling the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) south of Dundas.

Looking from the Dundas Bridge toward the new Grand Touring Automobiles dealership. Image by UT forum contributor skycandy.

Due to a decrease in grade westwards toward the DVP, the 4-storey cantilevered building, designed by Plaston Architect Limited, generally will have a two-storey appearance along Dundas Street East and Carroll Street, and a four-storey appearance along the DVP.

Closer View from the Dundas Bridge toward the new Grand Touring Automobiles dealership. Image by UT forum contributor skycandy.

The DVP side will include three terraced showrooms featuring such marquee brands as Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce.

View of the cantilever of the new Grand Touring Automobiles dealership. Image by UT forum contributor skycandy.

Stay tuned as this project continues to move forward, likely reaching completion sometime midyear based on these most recent images.

Renderings of the new Grand Touring Automobiles dealership by Plaston Architect Limited

Please join in the conversation in our associated Forum thread, or you may comment in the space provided below.

Hugging the west side of Central London's City Road Basin, the curvy 36-storey Lexicon development by property developer Mount Anvil and housing provider Affinity Sutton has welcomed residents. Stunning new photos from our Forum show the three-building project's striking curtain wall glass and curvilinear form bathed in the low sunlight, revealing the building's shiny sleek surface.

Lexicon's roof is slanted, opening up the opportunity for wide terraces, image by Forum contributor MafaldaBoy

The tallest building in the London Borough of Islington shares its material and detailing with that of the other two buildings in the development, but the massing of each is distinctly individual. The development contains 200 private and 107 affordable one-, two-, and three-bedroom units alongside an amenities package that includes a spa, residents' lounge, retail space, and a public courtyard. 

Lexicon is a three-tower residential complex, image by Forum contributor MafaldaBoy

The smooth full-height glass exterior allows for outstanding views over London, which are only amplified further up from the full-width terraces hosted on the canted crown of the building. The clean and unfussy exterior is unhindered by superfluous ornamentation, opting instead for a simple elegance. Stylish and sophisticated facades are a hallmark of architecture practice Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, whose former partner Adrian Smith designed Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building.

The full, slender profile of Lexicon, image by Forum contributor MafaldaBoy

Recent photos from Forum contributor MafaldaBoy highlight the building's slender profile, small footprint, and canalside location. An excellent addition to the London skyline, the development continues the current trend of emergent residential towers in the core, amidst historic neighbourhoods that had traditionally maintained their built form. New skyscrapers like this emphasize the important relationship between urban design, architecture, and public realm in cities like London, where tall tower development is a relatively new phenomena. 

Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

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When we last paid a visit to Tate Downtown in Vancouver, construction on the upcoming 40-storey tower was just reaching grade. In the months that followed, there has been considerable progress, with the yet-to-be-clad concrete structure having risen approximately nine storeys above Howe Street. In doing so, the architectural geometry of the development is starting to reveal itself, giving passersby a glimpse of what to expect when the building is delivered in 2018.  

A rendering of the 40-storey Tate Downtown, image via Merrick Architecture

The 333-unit project by Bonds Group of Companies sports a design by Merrick Architecture that morphs its shape to optimize views of the city. A 12-foot water wall adjacent to the porte-cochère establishes a grand sense of arrival. For easy access, Tate Downtown's amenity spaces are located on the main floor, where residents can enjoy a fireside lounge, library, billiards room, 12-seat theatre, and conference facility. Additional amenities on the fourth and fifth floors include a 2,100-square-foot fitness centre, a social and dining room, and a 5,200-square-foot garden.

Tate Downtown construction should cease in 2018, image by Forum contributor mcminsen

But unlike most highrise residences, the building won't exclusively be the domain of its homeowners. The provision of 16 working artists' studios will help embed the development into the cultural consciousness of the Downtown South neighbourhood, which is quickly becoming an arts hub for Vancouver. The four-storey open concept space called High Street of the Arts will be large enough to host oversized art installations.

A contextual shot shows how the project interacts with the adjacent buildings, image by Forum contributor mcminsen

Another notable achievement by the development relates to its environmental credentials. Tate Downtown will become one of the first downtown projects to meet a 2011-approved policy that mandates all new development on rezoned sites attain at least LEED Gold status. As the building's features are extolled at its nearby sales centre, construction at the site has been swift. Sharp corners and curved floor plates are beginning to take shape and will soon be enhanced by a complete clothing of glass. The best is yet to come for Tate Downtown, so we'll keep track of the development as it continues its skyward climb.

Tate Downtown construction approaches the tenth floor, image by Forum contributor mcminsen

Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

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One of Calgary's oldest neighbourhoods, Bridgeland/Riverside, has experienced strong growth and been evolving rapidly over the last few years. Even the recent downturn in Calgary's economy has not stopped Bridgleland's growth, with two new developments having started up during that period.

Over the past four years Bridgeland/Riverside's population has increased from 5,526 to 6,052 people, an increase of 526 people or about 10 percent. And with some developments in the midst of finishing up around census time, and another 323 units still under construction, Bridgeland is far from done growing.

Over the past decade Bridgeland has seen the old Calgary General Hospital site developing through an award-winning municipal master plan known as The Bridges. This three-phase project will see approximately 2,500 residents added to Bridgeland once complete. Much of the development is finished, but there are a couple of projects currently under construction and one that has just been completed.

Radius by Bucci Developments is one part of the Bridges master plan that is currently under construction. It will add 201 units to the neighbourhood.

Radius by Bucci, image via Bucci Developments

Radius under construction, image by Kevin Cappis

Another development currently under construction in The Bridges scope is STEPS, a 122-unit residential development designed by Calgary architect Jeremy Sturgess and developed by Giustini Development Corp. The design features exterior circulation elements and has a cubic boxy style that is reminiscent of Habitat Montreal.

STEPS Bridgeland, image via Sturgess Architects

STEPS under construction, image by Kevin Cappis

Bridgeland Crossings, a two-phase 294-unit project developed by Apex Homes in partnership with Gablecraft Homes has recently been added to the mix in Bridgeland with Phase II and its 143 units becoming available this past spring.

Bridgeland Crossings Phase II, image by Kevin Cappis

Other recently completed projects include the 68-unit Bridgeland Hill — also from Gablecraft Homes — and its neighbour, Providence's 76-unit development Victory and Venture 

Bridgeland Hill, image by forum contributor Zoomi

Victory and Venture, image via forum contributor Zoomi

We'll continue to track these projects as they evolve. In the meantime, additional images and information can be found in the Database files linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum threads or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

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The urban infill conversation has enveloped the public and political discourse around the future of residential development in Edmonton. Started in August 2014, the City's Infill Roadmap creates a work plan to advance more and better residential infill in Edmonton's mature and established neighbourhoods. An additional 170,000 people are estimated to call the city home by 2025, and as cities around the world grapple with the impacts of urban sprawl, which produces long commute times and car dependency, infill has the opportunity to revitalize neighbourhoods and contribute to the collective goal of sustainability. 

The Infill Roadmap contains 23 actions to support infill development, image via City of Edmonton

The 23 actions outlined in the Infill Roadmap directly resulted from an eight-month public engagement process, known as Evolving Infill, which gathered input from citizens, builders, and City officials, in order to determine actions that would support infill development. Since its adoption, the City has made significant progress implementing the measures. So far, 15 of the goals have been reached, with the remaining eight well on their way to realization. Among the completed actions are the development of an infill website to alert residents about infill projects, a new rule that mandates informative signage on all infill building sites, the creation of a Good Neighbour Guide to help foster positive community relations, and the establishment of a Community Infill Panel designed to provide feedback to administration. These initiatives are a response to some key lessons learned throughout the engagement process, particularly the need for communication and a flexible approach to infill development. 

The City also identified 30 supplementary "detour" actions to support high-quality infill in Edmonton. The formation of an infill compliance team to inspect building sites, approving bylaw amendments requiring lot grading plans for all infill development, setting landscaping prescriptions and incentives for preserving greenery, and increased fines for noise bylaw violations are among the additional measures. 

The Infill Roadmap contains 23 actions to support infill development, image via City of Edmonton

The efforts to encourage infill development are especially pressing now, with a newly released report detailing disappointing numbers. Infill only accounted for 13 percent of all new homes in 2015, a far cry from the 2018 target of 25 percent that was set by Council in 2010. Back then, infill represented 17 percent of new housing, and then went on to gain another two percent the following year. But the figures have been going downhill ever since, a trend that's partially attributed to increased development in the suburbs. While construction in mature neighbourhoods has been strong, it's simply been overshadowed by the number of housing deliveries on the city's fringes.

The push for infill is stimulating changes to legislation and some outside-the-box solutions. Last week, councillors at the urban planning committee passed a motion to reduce the minimum lot width from 7.6 to 7.5 metres. While the tweak may seem inconsequential, Metro News reports that at least one homebuilder had been denied a building permit for a proposed infill house after coming in one centimetre short. The proposed rule follows the City's discovery that archaic survey methods misrepresented the true size of lots, which were actually 14.9 metres wide rather than the believed 15.2 metres.

Citing concerns about affordability, Edmonton architect Sherri Shorten has suggested the City explore "pork-chop" lots, which would divide land horizontally as an alternative to narrow houses. The larger home would front the street, while smaller homes would face the rear alley or laneway. This would allow current homeowners to redevelop the back half of the property while staying put in their house, then move to the smaller house when work is complete. Homeowners looking to downsize would reap the profits while maintaining their roots in the neighbourhood. 

Infill housing in Edmonton, image by Flickr user Mack Male via Creative Commons

The City has indicated it will largely focus its infill efforts on transit nodes and corridors, where development of narrow houses is most likely to be successful and welcomed. Public consultations around this renewed effort, with a vision of calming neighbourhood concerns, will begin in March. "As Edmonton’s population grows, the City needs to provide a broader diversity of housing options," said Kalen Anderson, Director of Planning Coordination. "We're really pleased with the progress to date and excited for what's to come. Edmontonians are looking to the future and working with the City of Edmonton to build that future together. The infill story is a truly Edmonton story and as it continues to evolve, so does the City."

Is the City doing enough to encourage residential infill? What other measures can be put in place to support infill development? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page.

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Renewed calls to sell and potentially raze an icon of Postmodern architecture in Downtown Chicago could lead to a 115-storey skyscraper that eclipses the landmark Willis Tower. In a move to curry favour with detractors and political opponents, Illinois Republicans and Governor Bruce Rauner have presented a conceptual rendering of a 1,700-foot mixed-use supertall, illustrating the enormous potential of the site. 

Thompson Center supertall, image via Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

The state-owned James R. Thompson Center at 100 W. Randolph Street was designed by Helmut Jahn and opened in 1985. Its sloping exterior and expansive atrium was the subject of both praise and scorn. As contemporary preservation efforts mainly focus on pre-war buildings, Postmodernist structures are increasingly finding themselves in dangerous territory. Preservation Chicago, aware of lawmakers' vision for the site, listed the Thompson Center as one of the city's most endangered buildings in 2016.

The Thompson Center, image retrieved from Google Street View

Among the chief concerns about the Thompson Center is its deferred maintenance bill, which is said to total $326 million. To rid itself of that potential crushing blow to state coffers, Governor Rauner made a call for the building's sale and demolition in late 2015. The sale could have netted the state government an estimated $220 million, but the proposal never even made it to the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly.

Thompson Center supertall, image via Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

If words didn't persuade action, perhaps the ambitious illustrations will. Rendered by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the released image shows a light-skinned sculpted and crystalline tower stretching into the sky beyond the height of the nearby Willis Tower. It would include a breadth of uses, including office, residential, hotel, and retail. The plan is more of a vision and less of an active proposal at the moment; alternative options for the site include a trio of shorter buildings. Any sale of the building would require buying up the long-term retail lease agreements and relocating hundreds of state workers to other offices around the city.

Additional information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

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Just north of Yonge and Davisville, an 8-storey mixed-use building has been proposed at 1984 Yonge Street. Situated on a small lot on the west side of the street, the mid-rise project calls for 30 residential units—spread out acrosos 6 floors—atop a second-storey office space and street-level retail. Taking on an uncommonly narrow frontage, the recently tabled proposal would replace a pair of two-storey properties that occupy the site. 

The site as it appears now, image via Google Maps

Designed by Giovanni A. Tassone Architects, the project was submitted on behalf of a numbered company. Fronted by a 171 m² retail space and narrow residential entry at street level, the project's second storey is occupied by a 310 m² office space, with residential levels above. The 30 condominium units are planned in a mix of 28 one-bedroom and 2 two-bedroom suites.

Looking southwest, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Given the constricted site and the close proximity to Davisvile subway station, the project features only two residential parking spaces, both of which are situated at grade. Accessible via a laneway off Imperial Street, the two vehicle spots are effectively tucked behind the retail space. In addition, 30 bicycle spaces are planned, meeting the City of Toronto's 1/1 guideline of bike spots to units. 

The ground floor plan, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Built almost to the lot lines on all four sides, the project's north and south sidewalls would remain largely blank, anticipating neighbouring development. In the meantime, the simple multi-tone finishes offer an interplay of earth tones, adding some degree of visual interest to the relatively prominent frontages. 

Looking southeast, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Amidst Toronto's sea of proposals and construction cranes, the project is notable for its compact footprint. Unlike the slender point towers atop blocky podium structures and sometimes block-length mid-rises that account for much of Toronto's recent construction, the narrow frontage would add density without significantly compromising the street's commercial character and pedestrian experience. 

Looking northwest, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Although density across the city continues to increase, the urban ecologies of fine-grained storefronts and 'eyes on the street' too often give way to more sterile street-level experiences. Regardless of the architectural quality—or lack thereof—of new development, it's hard to replicate the vitality of an established commercial street like Yonge when entire blocks are replaced to make way for just one or two new buildings. Unfortunately, this means that the concentration of retail spaces often shrinks as the concentration of residents grows. 

The project in its Yonge Street context, image via submission to the City of Toronto

In recent years, however, the growing scarcity of urban land—arguably complemented by a maturing development industry and real estate market—has seen a number of similar projects come to light. On one block of Wellington Street alone, for example, a cluster of small lots is subject to a plethora of applications, while ongoing projects like Bathurst Street's Origami Lofts are already seeing some smaller sites redeveloped. 

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We will keep you updated as the proposal begins to make its way though the planning process, and more information becomes available. In the meantime, you can learn more by checking out our dataBase file for the project, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space on this page, or join the conversation in our associated Forum thread. 

After laying dormant for more than a decade, the northeast corner of 34th Street and 10th Avenue near the rapidly rising Hudson Yards development at the western edge of Midtown Manhattan has become a flurry of activity in recent months. The future site of the 29-storey, 399-key Courtyard Hotel has begun to rise, and the tower now stands roughly nine storeys above ground. Designed by the DSM Design Group for Atria Builders and Marx Development Group, the project known today as 461 West 34th Street has already begun to impact its surroundings as the longstanding vacant lot transforms into an active construction site. 

461 West 34th Street, corner of 34th and 10th, image by Forum contributor towerpower123

The new development will feature a double-height first floor for retail purposes, shared by the main entrance and lobby. Guest rooms and amenity spaces related to the hotel will occupy the remaining floors, with the 15th floor reserved for activity space and an outdoor terrace. As for the design of the hotel itself, the tower will feature a sizeable setback at the 15th floor, which will provide the space needed for the terrace. 

461 West 34th Street, image via DSM Design Group

Once complete, 461 West 34th Street will join the nearby collection of highrises that have been rising within the Hudson Yards district just a few blocks to the west in a long-overlooked corner of Midtown Manhattan that is currently undergoing a massive transformation.

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.

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Renderings for an 80-storey tower surfaced online last fall, putting Edmonton's planners, architects, and urbanists in a frenzy over its transformative potential. Put forth by Alldritt Land Corporation and architectural practice KENNEDY, the skyscraper proposed for a site just east of the Shaw Conference Centre could become the tallest building not only in Edmonton, but in Western Canada.

The subject site, image by Forum contributor Daveography

The 280-metre-tall Quarters Hotel and Residences proposal has been in a state of flux since it debuted, as City officials grapple with the impacts of what would undeniably be a defining development for the neighbourhood. The tower and its associated public realm would occupy a triangular lot bordered by 96 Street, 101 Avenue, and Jasper Avenue, where a pair of disused low-rises currently stands next to a parkette. It would stretch across 101 Avenue to a patch of green space serving as a buffer zone between Jasper Avenue and Grierson Hill NW to the south. Louise McKinney Riverfront Park is located just beyond this road.

Conceptual landscape plan, image via KENNEDY and City of Edmonton

According to the Edmonton Journal, planners have come out in support of the proposed development, even though the City would be required to give up parkland to make it happen. That parkland, steep and difficult to traverse, has little value for any programmatic purposes. Furthermore, the loss of green space could actually improve connectivity to the larger community amenity just south. Alldritt would create a landscaped set of terraces leading down to the river valley, with the possibility of a future footbridge over Grierson Hill. The base of the tower would be clad in glass to ensure visual permeability, maintaining sightlines to the river valley as much as possible. 

South elevation, image via KENNEDY and City of Edmonton

The placement of the tower has been shifted west slightly to preserve views from the Hyatt Place hotel and accommodate an "urban balcony" as part of The Armature project. Former coal mines underneath the property, where a parking garage will be placed, will add some geotechnical challenges to the development. 

West elevation, image via KENNEDY and City of Edmonton

The land sale will be addressed by the Executive Committee on January 31. Rezoning to permit a tower height of 280 metres, a FAR of 12.0, a maximum of 700 units, and street-level commercial space will be considered at a City Council Public Hearing on February 6. Amendments to five associated bylaws — Quarters Area Redevelopment Plan, North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan, Capital City Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan, the Zoning Bylaw Section 811, 860 and 910, and closure of portions of 101 Avenue NW, a laneway and portion of Grierson Hill Road — will be addressed concurrently with the rezoning. 

Views of the tower's base and public realm, image via KENNEDY and City of Edmonton

We'll continue to track the evolution of this major proposal as it makes its way through the planning process. Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page?

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In the three months since our last update and tour, progress has been moving along at the site of N3, the GEC Architecture-designed, 16-storey, 167-unit condo development by Metropia and Knightsbridge Homes. Notable for its well-publicized lack of parking, as well its related gift of a Biria brand bicycle and $500 rental car voucher for new resident, the latest addition to Calgary's rapidly rising East Village is set to open in the next few months. 

N3, exterior work all but complete, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

Clad in a mixture of black-tinted glass and white cladding, N3's exterior colour scheme is similar to those of its many new neighbours. Several developments within East Village, such as the adjacent EV Hilton Hotel, feature a proliferation of white panelling that gives the area a somewhat cohesive architectural character. 

N3, street level view with fritted panel detail above main entrance, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

Viewed above, the front entrance is framed by a fritted panel design feature. The space above the entrance and future retail space will eventually become an outdoor terrace. Taken as a whole, N3's signature black and white design scheme works nicely, giving the building a distinctive look and feel. 

N3, alternate view, mid-January, image by Forum contributor Beltline_B

Once complete, N3 will be a welcome addition to East Village, a region that has grown into a cohesive community over just a few short years. Well connected to transit and within close proximity to downtown, East Village has proved a popular site for development. 

SkyriseCalgary will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below. 

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The rebirth of Queens Quay East continues with a wave of new developments, adding residential density, offices, retail, and new public spaces to Toronto's waterfront. While some of these projects primarily contribute to just one of the categories above, one development, Daniels Waterfront - City of the Arts, is adding all three uses—and then some—to the intersection of Queens Quay and Lower Jarvis. Now, as construction of the first phase ramps up, details of the project's mixed-use programming are continuing to emerge.

Daniels Waterfront viewed from the southeast, image by Jack Landau

Developed by the Daniels Corporation and featuring architecture by RAW and Rafael + Bigauskas Architects, the first phase of the development is a flexibly programmed commercial and institutional building rising on the south half of the site along Queens Quay. When we checked in on the project's construction last month, the office component's fourth level floor plate was nearing completion at the northeast and southwest corners, while structural columns had been erected for the remaining southeast and northwest corners.

Daniels Waterfront viewed from the northwest, image by Jack Landau

In the time since, most of the remaining fourth floor has been formed, as well as a large portion of the fifth floor slab above, with working now beginning on the 6th level. From here, the tower will break apart into 11 and 14-storey volumes. 

Daniels Waterfront viewed from the southwest, image by Jack Landau

The taller 14-storey volume will be pulled away from the corner of Jarvis and Queens Quay, creating a wedge of space that will eventually be transformed into a northern extension of the Claude Cormier + Associés-designed Sugar Beach across Queens Quay.Daniels Waterfront viewed from the southeast, image by Jack Landau

Meanwhile, as work on the commercial component continues, excavation is in full swing for the future residential phases of Daniels Waterfront, dubbed Lighthouse Tower and Lighthouse Tower East. Crews are digging down to a depth of four storeys for this half's underground parking garage, set to contain a total of 603 parking spaces for residents and visitors.

Excavation for Daniels Waterfront's residential phases, image by Jack Landau

Excavation is furthest along at the south end of the pit, abutting the below-grade concrete wall of the office component. Connecting from Richardson Street to the east, a temporary earthen ramp allows access to the base of the pit for workers and machinery, and is expected to be removed following the installation of a tower crane and staircases for workers.

Excavation for Daniels Waterfront's residential phases, image by Jack Landau

This first phase will introduce 280,000 ft² of office space to the area, including 30,000 ft² on the 5th floor for Artscape's Quadrangle-designed 'Launchpad.' The building will meet Queens Quay with 27,000 ft² of retail space, which will help to animate the block in advance of the first wave of condo tower residents from the residential phases being excavated to the north. 

Complementing the office uses, the first phase will also feature academic spaces for both George Brown College and OCAD University, with new information about both campuses recently announced. We will continue to keep you updated as more information about the retail, office, and institutional programming comes to light. Additional information and renderings can be found in the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

As the commercial phase of Daniels Waterfront - City of the Arts gradually joins Toronto's nascent East Bayfront skyline on Queens Quay, new information about the project's mixed-use programming is continuing to emerge. This week, Federal funding announcements for George Brown College and OCAD University revealed new details of the substantial post-secondary facilities that will front the development. 

On Monday, January 23rd, and Tuesday January 24th, the Federal Government announced new funding for the George Brown and OCAD U respectively. With a contribution of $15.6 million geared towards George Brown's $59 million Daniels Waterfront campus, and an of $4.5 million announced today for two OCAD U projects, plans for the expansion of both institutions take clearer shape.

Daniels Waterfront, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

With offices, retail, and the Artscape Launchpad complementing the post-secondary spaces, the first phase of Daniels Waterfront is slated to be completed in 2018. By September of next year, the site's 103,000 ft² George Brown campus (seen below) is set to welcome its first students, while the first phase of OCAD's new 'Campus for the Connected World' (CCW) will also be completed next year.  

George Brown will occupy the second and third floors of the south podium, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

With a capacity of 1,800 students, George Brown's $59-million facility will be located a block northwest of the school's Daphne Rockwell Centre for Health Sciences, adding another post-secondary presence to what is becoming a de facto urban campus. The new facility will house part of George Brown's School of Design, including the faculty's interdisciplinary design studio. The space will also house GBC's 'Institute without Boundaries,' as well as a so-called 'Innovation Exchange,' which will explore design solutions for the tech-driven era. 

The street level and Cherry Beach North, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

Occupying the second and third floors of the first phase—which will rise in 12 and 14-storey towers above the 6-storey podium—the George Brown campus will be accessible from Lower Jarvis Street. Located just above the Sugar Beach extension that will front the corner of Queens Quay and Lower Jarvis, a small campus shop will front the entrance, adding to the new community's retail-dominated street level.

George Brown interior, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

The campus will house 9 classrooms, 19 labs, 9 study spaces, and a 135-seat auditorium, as well as the 20,000 ft² Innovation Exchange. The Innovation Exchange will include a 5,000 ft² charrette centre, as well as a variety of labs—focusing on subjects like immersive media and augmented reality—and multiple gallery spaces.  

The Innovation Exchange, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

Above the George Brown Campus, meanwhile, the 13,000 ft² first phase of OCAD U's new facilities will be located alongside the 35,000 ft² Artscape Launchpad. According to the school, "[t]he space will be home to the delivery of an expanded university initiative around research, executive training and university accelerator capacity that supports commercialization initiatives and brings design skills to emergent companies." $2.5 million of the Federal funding will be geared towards the CCW, with the remaining $2 million earmarked for the reinvention of the school's main McCaul Street campus. 

Phasing Plan for the CCW, image courtesy of OCAD U

Benefitting from its adjacency to the Artscape Launchpad—which will function as an incubator and co-working location for young arts professionals—the OCAD space will furnish interactions and collaborations with young industry professionals world. Meanwhile, the bulk of the CCW could be housed in the shared podium of Daniels Waterfront's two residential towers, where excavation is now underway.

Known as 'The Yard,' a mews space will separate the commercial and residential components, image courtesy of Daniels

Phase II of the CCW space is proposed to be located on the north side of the retail-lined pedestrian mews separating the commercial and residential complexes. Though approval from the school's Board of Governor's is still pending—with the decision expected in May—OCAD's CCW plan envisions a 55,000 ft² facility occupying the second floor of the north podium. Pending approval and funding, the larger facility targets a tentative May 2020 opening. According to OCAD U President Sara Diamond, both new spaces will supplement existing programs, giving students access to firsthand industry experience, as well as collaborations with George Brown. 

Including the 55,000 ft² OCAD facility, Daniels Waterfront would feature some 171,000 ft² of total educational space. Bringing post-secondary facilities into what is predominantly a commercial and residential development, the integration of institutional and non-instutional uses is a far cry from the ivy-gated cloisters that characterize many older university campuses. While the separation of education and commerce was largely predicated on maintaining the independence of the academia, many of today's more flexible post-secondary programs look for more practical ways to fill the gap between graduates and the labour market.

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We will keep you updated as more information becomes available, and the plans continue to take shape. For a more architectural perspective of the project, make sure to check out today's construction update, which provides an overview of recent site activity. Meanwhile, further information is available via our dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment on this page, or join the conversation in our associated Forum thread. 

Coming soon to the famous manmade Palm Jumeirah islands of Dubai, a $1.8 billion (CAD) luxury resort and residence project known as Royal Atlantis is set to redefine the local skyline. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates for the Investment Corporation of Dubai, the 43-storey, 795-room, 231-unit hotel and residences will take up a massive 10-hectare plot of prime waterfront land. The luxury development will have no less than 65 outdoor swimming pools, including the signature Skypool, which will be perched more than 100 metres above grade.

Royal Atlantis, image via Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

Part resort hotel, part luxury residences, Royal Atlantis will spare no expense in terms of delivering top-tier amenities to its guests and residents. The plentiful pools, not to mention live palm trees and indoor activity rooms, restaurants, and lounges explain the high ticket price attached to this development, and reflect the return on investment that the project is expected to garner.

Rooftop pool deck, Royal Atlantis, image via Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

With room to accommodate approximately 1,500 guests and residents, the Royal Atlantis hotel and residence will bring a considerable influx of activity to the Palm Jumeirah islands. The manmade landmass is as much a triumph of modern engineering as it is a symbol of the type of conspicuous wealth that has defined the development of Dubai in recent decades. Set to open in 2018, the new development will soon become a prime destination for those looking to live the high life.

Royal Atlantis, close-up view of residences, image via Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.

In late July of last year, Pinnacle International's proposal for a 25-storey condominium on Etobicoke's Dundas Street West began to take shape through a Site Plan Application (SPA) to the City of Toronto, fleshing out the preliminary details for what would eventually be a multi-tower community dubbed Pinnacle Etobicoke. Recently, a more detailed plan was tabled to the City in late December, bringing to light a revised design for the first tower—at 5415 Dundas West—as well as a preliminary phasing plan for the entirety of the 10.5 acre site.

The updated design, looking southwest, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, Pinnacle Etobicoke's first phase is still planned as a 25-storey tower. While the density, mix of uses, and massing remain largely unchanged, the building's architectural expression has been altered somewhat. Remaining a heavily spandreled composition of grey tones—accented with flashes of orange—the tower now also features a flared extrusion that curves out towards the upper levels. 

Looking east, image via submission to the City of Toronto

The Phase One tower now features 273 condominium suites, reduced by just one unit from the 274 suites initially proposed. The project's office and retail uses also remain mostly unaltered. A pair of retail spaces—766 m² and 745 m² in size front Dundas on either side of an office lobby that leads to the approximately 3,600 m² of office space that's spread out across the second and third floors of the building's boxy 8-storey podium. Meanwhile, the architectural plans indicate the larger retail space (located on the west side of the podium) could be subdivided into smaller stores. 

The ground floor plan, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Offering a preview of the later Pinnacle Etobicoke phases, the new submission also outlines the general scope of the master-planned community to come. Immediately west of the first tower, the east half of the community's on-site public park space—appointed by NAK Design Strategies—would be completed as part of Phase One, the park's west side would take shape along with the Phase Two towers. Situated southwest of Phase One, the paired 28- and 20-storey Phase Two towers would rise from a shared podium.

Phases one and two, image via submission to the City of Toronto

An additional four phases are also outlined, with the latter stages of the community filling out the west side of the site. Including the 25-storey Phase One tower, a total of eight towers are planned across the six-phase community. Ranging in height from 22 to 30 storeys, the towers would add thousands of residents to the area west of the line 2 terminus at Kipling Station. Site access would be provided via a new internal road from Shorncliffe Road on the west to the Kip District site on the east, with another new roadway connecting to Dundas Street West. 

The site plan, image via submission to the City of Toronto

The neighbouring Kip District development is already taking shape immediately east of Pinnacle's site. With the project's first tower—known as 'Kip One'—under construction just east of the Pinnacle Etobicoke site, a Site Plan Approval outlining the future phases of the Concert Properties community has also recently been submitted. 

Aerial view in late December, the diagonal line denotes the property boundary between the Pinnacle site and the Kip District, with 'Kip One' seen under construction, image by UT Forum contributor Jasonzed

We'll return with a look at the evolving Kip District plans in the coming days, and we'll make sure to keep you updated as the planning process for as the multi-tower Pinnacle Etobicoke community continues. In the meantime, further information about both projects is available via our dataBase files, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space on this page, or join one of the conversations in our Forum.  

In the eight months since our last update, progress at the site of One Blackfriars in London has been moving along nicely, and the 52-storey, mixed-use, 152-room, 274-unit hotel and residential tower will soon top off. With a bold cantilevered design by SimpsonHaugh and Partners, the St. George-built tower is set to redefine the southern bank of the Thames upon its completion in early 2018. 

One Blackfriars nearing completion in Central London, image by Flickr user Jimmy Wu via Creative Commons

Sprouting from a narrow base, the 170-metre glass-wrapped tower's irregular massing spreads outwards towards the top of the structure, until finally contracting inwards once more near the multi-storey pinnacle that will eventually become home to an observation deck. Meanwhile, back at ground level, the base of the tower will be joined by two additional low-rise structures, at four and six storeys apiece, which will host functions related to the project including retail and office space. 

Cladding well underway towards the top of the tower, image by Flickr user Jimmy Wu via Creative Commons

Clad in a special double-skinned envelope, One Blackfriars' glass curtain wal. system will help conserve energy costs, while also facilitating the flow of air through every level of the building. Featuring a design that blends a mixture of angular and curved lines, the rear view of the tower, seen below, will have a much sleeker silhouette. From any angle, the tower will stand out from a city skyline that has in recent years become known for its ever-growing collection of avant-garde skyscrapers. 

One Blackfriars, rear view, image by Flickr user Jimmy Wu via Creative Commons

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below. 

Councillor Ben Henderson was among a group of lawmakers calling for a deferral on deciding the fate of ONE Properties'Southpark on Whyte development until a local land use plan was finished. And his appeal has found echoing voices at Council, which has decided to postpone the rezoning matter until staff complete Plan Whyte, a document intended to guide development in the commercial corridor.

Southpark on Whyte proposes a mix of housing units, image via Stantec

The developer wants to replace the former car dealership with a mixed-use development consisting of four buildings, including two highrise residential towers of 18 storeys along 81 Avenue. ONE Properties is also proposing multiple retail bays greeting the street and the transformation of an existing alley to a pedestrian mews.

Delaying the vote will allow Councillors to place the development within the bigger picture presented by staff when Plan Whyte is revealed. Following 18 months of study and public engagement, staff will unveil details of two height scenarios of six and 14 storeys. The proposed 18-storey buildings would top that upper limit, but the developer hopes the pedestrian-friendly streetscape combined with the development's lucrative potential to transform the neighbourhood will sway fence-sitting Councillors. 

Site overview, image via Stantec

The delay also ensures the decision will be informed by a comprehensive policy, rather than making ad hoc judgments on a case-by-case basis. The rezoning application will be considered once again on March 20, giving planners a fairly short window of time to ready Plan Whyte before they present it to Councillors.

Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

Calgary City Council has tentatively approved most of the contentious Highland Park golf course redevelopment, but its final decision won't come until March 20 at the earliest. Vancouver-based developer Maple Projects Inc. put forward a development plan for the site in December 2014 and every aspect of the project has been in a state of flux in the months since. At issue is the loss of green space, potential environmental impacts, and the proposed density of the development. The developer has made several alterations to the plan in response to community feedback and Councillors, who were expected to make a decision on the land use amendment and outline plan application last July. That vote was deferred in order to gather more input and make further revisions, which Maple has done.

Overview of the proposed redevelopment, image via Maple Projects Inc.

The 50-acre property that was previously home to the Highland Park golf course was purchased by Maple Projects Inc. in 2013. They are seeking permission to build a maximum of 2,070 units, which if constructed, would be within walking distance of a proposed stop on the new Green Line LRT. After Council deferred its decision in July, additional public engagement sessions were held. A number of revisions arose from these meetings.

The subject site, image retrieved from Google Maps

Two 18-storey towers planned to back McKnight Boulevard NW have been substantially reduced to eight storeys. Proposals for buildings along Centre Street North had already been reduced in scale from 18 to 15 storeys following input received from a March open house. A single or pair of 12-storey buildings are envisioned for 40th Avenue NW, while the remainder of the property would host buildings ranging from four to eight storeys. The original plans had sought a whopping 46 buildings at four storeys across the site, but community concerns about the elimination of open space reduced the number of structures to 21. This increase of open space — now representing 29.4 percent of the site — translates to a built form that stretches up rather than out.

A conceptual rendering shows what's possible, image via Maple Projects Inc.

Area Councillor Sean Chu proposed several amendments, including a failed push to boost the percentage of underground or contained parking within each parcel from 50 percent to 85 percent. Council had some successes however in voting to require slope adaptive design, meaning that the topographical structure of the land will remain the same, rather than carting in fill to alter the landscape. In the end, Council approved most of the development, having approved first and second readings on some of the bylaws needed to move forward. But the central portion where a large public space is planned will need to undergo more scrutiny. Third and final readings of the bylaws will be considered at the March 20 meeting.

Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

Rising in what is now known as downtown Surrey, 3 Civic Plaza was first announced in 2014. Recent photos capture the tower as it approaches its 52-storey topping off point. Designed by ZGF Cotter Architects for Century Group, 3 Civic Plaza will be comprised of a mixed-use 144-room hotel attached directly to a 349-unit residential tower, all of which will be set above a multi-level retail podium that also serves as the main entrance and lobby for the hotel and residences. 

3 Civic Plaza approaching final height in downtown Surrey, image by Forum contributor City of Rain

On target to become the tallest tower in Surrey, 3 Civic Place will soon become a focal point within the Vancouver suburb's newly redeveloped city centre. The project will be served almost directly by the adjacent SkyTrain, which can be clearly seen at the base of the tower in the images above and below. 

3 Civic Plaza, cladding underway, image by Forum contributor City of Rain

Occupying a parcel of land directly behind the recently completed Surrey Library, and abutting the elevated SkyTrain tracks just steps from Surrey Central Station, 3 Civic Plaza will be ideally located in the heart of the action, with easy access to Metro Vancouver and YVR. 

3 Civic Plaza, soon to become the focal point of downtown Surrey, image via ZGF Architects

Slated for completion later this year, 3 Civic Plaza will be a welcome addition to the city centre. The recent completion of the adjacent Surrey SFU campus, in addition to several other recent developments in the vicinity, ensure that downtown Surrey will enjoy a bright future. 

SkyriseVancouver will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.

As products of Toronto's development boom go, the Sweeny &Co-designed QRC West is arguably one of the best. Standing at the intersection of Peter and Richmond, a gracefully intricate feat of engineering sees the contemporary office tower rise above the warehouse that fronts the northwest corner. Tastefully integrating the old and the new, the project has been widely praised for its sensitivity to heritage, improving a historic site amidst a wave of construction that has too often leaves behind little more than symbolic façades of the past in its wake. Now, a block north, a very different piece of Toronto's past faces its reckoning through another Sweeny &Co design...

The new Mountain Equipment Coop, image via submission to the City of Toronto

After occupying the northwest corner of Queen and Soho for decades, a prominent Queen West parking lot is no more. Making way for a three-storey commercial building, the first weeks of 2017 have brought long-anticipated site activity to the 20,720 ft ² lot. With the site fenced off and construction underway, a new MEC (formerly known as Mountain Equipment Coop), is slated to occupy the building, replacing the store's well-known King Street flagship. 

Site activity in late January, image by UT Forum contributor AHK

While plans for a low-rise commercial project on the site have been in the works since at least early 2012, the development had been relatively slow to move forward until now. After a revised Site Plan Application (SPA) was filed with the City in early November, however, the planning process was effectively concluded, paving the way for the start of construction. Following shoring and excavation, a full three levels of underground parking will precede the low-rise commercial building. 

West-east cross-section, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Similar in scale to the current King Street location—which was sold by MEC in 2015—the new MEC will occupy approximately 37,000 ft² of the 54,000 ft² building, with some 25,000 ft² dedicated to the store's sales floor. Above MEC's two floors, the top level will be given over to a day nursery and related office space, with the non-retail uses accessible from Bulwer Street at the north end of the site. Stepped back in order to maintain Queen West's two-storey streetwall, the nursery emerges onto a terrace intended to serve as an outdoor play area. 

On the east end of the site, the Soho Street frontage will feature new landscaping and a widened sidewalk, though the building itself will meet the residential street with a mostly blank façade. Along Queen, meanwhile, the project takes it cues from the surrounding context, visually replicating the rhythm of Queen's compact two-storey frontages with an articulated façade. The use of brick is similarly intended to respect the material character of an area that's designated as a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). Setting out parameters for streetwall elements, façade features, and building heights, Queen West's HCD designation—passed by Council in 2007—limits the scope of new development to ensure a cohesive street-level experience. 

A closer look at the articulation, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Amidst a Downtown transformed by high-rise development, the project's low-rise scale may be surprising. Given the context—and cultural value—of surrounding built form, however, the rationale for a modestly-sized development is understandable, if not uncontroversial. Notwithstanding the massing, however, some UT Forum members have argued that aesthetically deferential design makes for a blandly suburban—and certainly beige—addition to the streetscape.

Looking south from Soho Street to Tableau and QRC West (l-r), image via Google Maps

Compared to Sweeney & Co's own QRC West just down the street—and the soon-to-be 'QRC North' extension approaching Queen—the design evinces a different set of sensibilities, forgoing the deft interplay of preservation and innovation for an inoffensive structure that embodies neither. Given the different contexts, however, the comparison to QRC West should be taken with at least a grain of salt. A comparison with the parking lot is much more flattering, of course, and for a site that's felt out of place for so many years, that counts for something too.

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We will keep you updated as construction continues and the project begins to make its mark on Queen West. In the meantime, further information is available via our dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space on this page, or join the conversation in our associated Forum thread.