For years, the intersection of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road was an area of Toronto that was largely overlooked by developers, enjoying minimal prospects in terms of new infrastructure to accommodate residential density. With the impending opening of the Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown line, however, all four corners of the intersection are now slated for dramatic transformations, offering a promising chance at a vibrant future for the neglected crossroads. 

The project on the northwest corner, Aspen Ridge Homes' master-planned Crosstown Community project, is currently leading the way in terms of construction. With two years of progress on the One Crosstown Towers and The Crest residential phase further to the west, the Metrus Properties-developed project’s first commercial phase, Crosstown Place, a 9-storey office building has achieved its topping off right at the corner of the two major arterials, and is generating excitement with the first traces of its high-quality glazing system.

Looking northwest at the concrete frame of Crosstown Place, now topped off, image by UT Forum contributor James1256

Designed by Core Architects, Crosstown Place now stands at its final height of 48 metres above the northwest corner of Don Mills and Eglinton, and in the southeast corner of the larger Crosstown Community site. The image above shows us that the building’s concrete frame is largely complete, with finishing touches taking place to complete the mechanical penthouse. Still to be formed as well is the roof slab, which is pictured here with the rebar and mechanical tubing in place ahead of the final concrete pour. Closer to completion, the entire surface will be topped with a green roof. 

With the concrete work making steady progress since emerging above grade last summer, the crew was able to get started on the installation of the building’s exterior envelope by the end of the year. Consisting solely of a striking curtain wall glazing system, the building’s envelope is defined by a projecting diamond-shaped motif. The diamond shape occupies a total of 6 panels of glazing, and alternates from a projected condition to a flat one along a horizontal sequence. The glazing has now been installed across the majority of the building’s third level. 

Looking north at the progress of glazing installation on the 3rd floor, image by UT Forum contributor skycandy

Getting a better view of the glazing system in the image below, we can see that it is a unitized system, composed of a series of prefabricated panels that are complete with glass and mullions, and arrive on site ready to install one at a time. In the right side of the frame, we can see a single panel being guided into place by two crew members, which will be fitted into a pair of mounts installed on the slabs above and below. 

Close up of unitized glazing system being installed, image by UT Forum contributor skycandy

With construction of the building moving ahead into the glazing stage, work will soon begin to pick up on the project’s other defining element, the privately owned public space (POPS) located to the west of the building. This space has been programmed by the MBTW Group with extensive landscaping, with a goal of creating a meaningful transitional space between the commercial uses of the building, the retail uses at grade, and the Science Centre Line 5 station access point baked into the south end of the building’s grade level. 

Looking south at the building's landscaped POPS and concealed parking ramp, image from submission to City of Toronto

Finishing work on the parking garage access ramp will be particularly interesting to track, as the structure is slated to be concealed with an angular living wall designed to mimic the diamond-shaped quality of the exterior expression. Meanwhile, the next phase up in the activation of the Crosstown Community, a 27-storey rental building located just to the north, celebrated its ground breaking in early January, and has now obtained permits for shoring.  

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, 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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