Ontario Construction News staff writer
The University of Toronto and The Daniels Corporation are continuing work on the downtown St. George Campus expansion with plans for a mixed-use student residence development.
Urban Toronto reports that a resubmitted Site Plan Approval and Zoning By-Law Amendments provide further refinements, with detailed elevation studies and material boards.is continuing with its downtown St. George Campus expansion with a mixed-use student residence development. A resubmission of Site Plan Approval and Zoning By-Law Amendments provides further refinements along with detailed elevation studies and material boards.
Diamond Schmitt Architects have designed a 70 m.-high student residence tower and a 9.4 m.-high stacked townhouse complex, separated by a public laneway.
The site currently has low-rise brick buildings and fenced-in, privately owned open space fronting Sussex Avenue. The heritage building at 698 Spadina Ave. is currently the home to the Ten Editions bookstore and will be retained. The proposal for 698 through 704 Spadina Ave. on the northwest corner at Sussex Avenue will include a 23-storey building with a 508-bed residence, commercial space and townhouses.
Demolition on the site began in late 2020, with the removal of a vacant 1950’s era former Canada Post building, DataBid.com reports.
The tower will rise above a three-storey street-related podium and its main residential entrance will be on Spadina Avenue. A retail space in the heritage building will front Spadina Avenue and wrap around the building’s southeast corner.
The tower’s total proposed gross floor area is 17,065 sq. m., comprising 16,660 sq. m. of residential and 405 sq. m. of retail. The building would also include meeting, game, study and event rooms. There will be a cafe, and second-floor dining amenities. Student housing in 230 units (508 beds) will be from level 3 and upwards, with bicycle-only parking in the basement.
The 3-storey townhouse building on the west side of the property at 54 Sussex Ave. Will have 10 units (including six rental replacement units) with a total gross floor area of 892 sq. m. There will also be offices and meeting rooms.
The building will feature red face brick in vertical staggered bond or stack bond, in a smooth or artisanal finish. It will also include warm grey precast concrete, vision glass, dark grey spandrel glass and aluminum details.
The eastern and southern facades of the existing late-19th century building at 698 Spadina would be conserved, while the north and west return walls would be disassembled and reconstructed.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project – Daniels/UT Sussex & Spadina Student Residence Building – Division 1 Suppliers Prequalification (0026111020)
