A Tridel condo development under construction on a wedge-shaped site at Bloor and Parliament on northern edge of Toronto's St James Town neighbourhood is starting to show off its architectural bones as it rises higher. Part of the area's long-term, mixed-income revitalization, the architectsAlliance-designed complex—dubbed Via Bloor—has progressed a fair bit since we last checked in, in March.

Looking southeast to Via Bloor, image by Forum contributor Rascacielo

The greatest drama at the site comes at the east end where formwork has been removed below where the 46-storey east tower has begun to rise. The tower capsule-shaped floor plates are held aloft over the east edge of the podium by canted support columns, eventually to boast a wedge-shaped public space hugging the ground at the blunt-nosed intersection of Bloor, Parliament, and Howard streets.  

Looking northwest to Via Bloor, image by Forum contributor Benito

Also new is the start of installation of the building's envelope, spotted on the second floor of the podium. The cladding here is a window wall system with full pane vision glazing and louvres framed in black aluminum mullions. Glass balcony guards will add to the podium treatment, with these sections of window wall and balcony glazing to be surrounded in slender perforated aluminum reveals. These sections will all be framed in limestone panels.

Cladding on second floor of Via Bloor, image by Forum contributor Benito

Once complete, the project will add to the handful of condo projects that have come to the St James Town area which is predominantly built out with rental buildings currently. The project's infusion of new residents and its contribution of public spaces and 16,000 ft² of retail are intended to bring new animation to a stretch of Bloor Street East near the Don Valley that has had little pedestrian life over the last several decades.

Looking northwest to Via Bloor, image courtesy of Tridel

You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, 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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