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Nearly two decades of work have gone into the revitalization of Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood, led by The Daniels Corporation and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC). The area has transformed into a mixed-income community through a series of phased developments over the last two decades. Block 16 North is the latest addition as the fourth and final TCHC rental building of Phase 3. The 15-storey building, designed by RAW, now stands topped off and sealed in with cladding and glazing.
Construction for the building at the southeast corner of Sumach and Oak streets began in April, 2021. Now, three years later, the building is nearing occupancy.
The blue tower crane was installed in October, 2021. Crew members can be seen performing adjustments to the crane's jib. In the background are various phases within Regent Park: to the left, Artworks Tower, which was nearing completion at the time, and to the right, the already completed Daniels DuEast.
Over a year later, in November, 2022, the project was above ground, having reached grade earlier that year. The east end on the right had three fully formed storeys, with formwork on the fourth level. Meanwhile, to the west, four storeys were formed with formwork installed for the fifth level, prepping for the rise of the main 15-storey tower. The first storey had been formed in the middle, bridging these two volumes.
We look southwest across Sumach Street in September, 2023, after the tower had topped off that June. The seven-storey podium extends eastward from the tower, accentuated with dark, textured cladding of black stamped precast concrete across the first three floors. Above this, the building transitions to white cladding paired with dark glazing, with projecting balconies on the north side. A cantilevered fourth level at the northeast corner extends above the black concrete, where a telescopic boom lift is in action. The uppermost levels of the tower are seen with tan brown insulation panels awaiting cladding.
By April, 2024, the Ratna Lane streetscape along the south side had been transformed, featuring a paver pattern with varying shades of stones laid in arch-like configurations, complemented by newly planted trees. Prioritizing pedestrians, Ratna Lane was designed as a "living lane" with live-work units with doors onto the lane, seating, and landscaping. The connecting volume between the tower and the adjacent four-storey podium features a zig-zag frontage accentuated by expansive glazing panels. White weatherproofing material is visible on the right and centre sections that await cladding.
Looking southeast along Sumach Street in August, 2024, the tower’s facade showcases white cladding that dominates the north elevation. The west elevation contrasts with darker cladding, with elongated projecting balconies at the northwest corner giving us a clear view of the frosted glass balcony guards. To the right, balconies of varying lengths form a unique pattern from the fourth floor upwards. Strips of white cladding both vertically and horizontally divide these sections. The lower levels feature terracotta cladding highlights that cap portions of the first storey and are mirrored above on the underside of the white panels.
This recent view from above provides a comprehensive perspective of the massing. The primary tower volume, positioned on the left with a C-shaped configuration, features green roofs on its south and west ends. At the bottom right, the four-storey podium volume spans the east end of the site, featuring additional green roofs. This podium step-back leads to the seven-storey volume towards the north.
Block 16 North rises to a height of 43.58m and houses 213 units, with 189 as Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) and 24 designated affordable units. In the meantime, the last Regent Park Phase 3 condo is under construction in the northwest corner of the area, while planning is underway with Tridel for Phases 4 and 5 of the revitalization.
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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| Related Companies: | Bousfields, Counterpoint Engineering, EQ Building Performance Inc., MCW Consultants Ltd, RAW Design, The Daniels Corporation, ULMA Canada, Unilux HVAC Industries Inc. |
