January 28, 2015
The majority of the exterior work is nearing completion. The installation of the blue panels under the plaza soffit is approximately 98% complete. The soffit under the O’Keefe Lane bridge is now completed leaving only the loading dock railings to be installed.
The store front framing and glazing along Yonge Street has been completed. A promotional graphic screening has been applied to the glass to animate the retail frontage. With the installation of the store front glass doors, the temporary fencing system along Yonge Street was permanently removed allowing full pedestrian access to the sidewalk.
Interior finishing work is nearing completion on most floors. The mechanical and electrical systems are completely functional and are now going through the commissioning phase ready for turnover to Ryerson. The remaining building systems will be tested and commissioned throughout the month of January/ early February. Training for Ryerson Campus Facilities & Sustainability staff has been ongoing concurrently with the commissioning of various building systems as they come on line.
Furniture has started arriving on site since the first week of December with about 60% already installed. Most of this furniture is now connected to power and data communications. The majority of the remaining furniture consisting of some loose elements and seating will be delivered in early February.
Work in the main lobby continues to progress on the wood bleacher seating and main stair to the atrium bridge. The construction of the Starbucks cafe has begun and is scheduled for completion in mid-February.
An application for occupancy has been made to the City’s Building Inspections Department with a currently anticipated release in early February to achieve the targeted soft opening of the building for February 23, 2015
Ryerson’s re-zoning application for the SLC will permit a single retailer to occupy less retail space, as well as permit a larger GFA for the entire building (an additional 410 square meters). The result of this will be to make some of the “at-grade” and all of the basement space adaptable for academic uses.
A public meeting was held on January 20 and the item is scheduled to be on the City of Toronto’s Community Council meeting agenda for February 18. If it is approved, it will likely proceed to the next Council meeting for final City approval.