Tag Archives: The Florian condos

Neighbourhood Watch: Photos of Bloor-Yorkville area condos and construction activity (Part 1)

Crystal Blu condo tower and Uptown Residences Condo tower

April 30 2011: The Crystal Blu condo tower (left) and Uptown Residences Condo tower (right) soar skyward above Balmuto Street

 

High neighbours: As residents gradually move into the new 35-storey Crystal Blu condo tower at 21 Balmuto Street, buyers of luxury condos at The Uptown Residences anxiously await their own move-in dates. Exterior construction activity on the 48-floor Uptown Residences tower at 35 Balmuto has been finished for a few months, but finishing touches are underway and the front entrance is still being built. Information and photos of The Uptown Residences are provided in my March 2 2011 post about the project; below are several more pics I took of it and Crystal Blu last month.

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

April 7 2011: A work crew applies finishing touches halfway up the west side of The Uptown Residences condo tower

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

April 7 2011: A closer view of the workers on their swing stage

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

April 22 2011: The Uptown Residences front entrance at 35 Balmuto Street

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

April 22 2011: The Uptown Residences front entrance features a revolving door

 

Crystal Blu condo tower

April 22 2011: The Crystal Blu Condos front entrance isn’t 100% finished yet

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

April 30 2011: The Manulife Centre across the street reflects in The Uptown’s shiny black and grey granite podium…

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

…while a worker performs finishing touches on the lower southwest corner

 

The Uptown Residences condo tower

April 30 2011: A long look up the north side of The Uptown Residences

 

36 Hazelton luxury condo

April 23 2011: The 36Hazelton luxury condo project location and presentation centre opening this month at 36 Hazelton Avenue

Exclusive enclave: The presentation centre for 36Hazelton is being readied for an opening expected sometime this month. Only 18 residences will be available in the boutique condo development, which will rise seven storeys above the historic St Basil’s Catholic School at 36 Hazelton Avenue. Prices for the posh condominium suites, which will boast spacious outdoor terraces overlooking the quiet tree-lined street, range from $1.6 million to more than $10 million. See my March 26 2011 post for further information about 36Hazelton as well as numerous photos of the project site.

 

36 Hazelton luxury condo

April 23 2011: 36 Hazelton will incorporate the facade of the 83-year-old St Basil’s schoolhouse into the boutique condo building

 

The Florian Residences of Upper Yorkville condo tower

April 23 2011: Exterior brickwork and window installation on the east side of The Florian Residences of Upper Yorkville condo tower on Davenport Road

 

Florian facade fills out: Brickwork and window installation at The Florian Residences of Upper Yorkville continues to climb higher up the 25-storey condo tower. My February 12 2011 post describes The Florian project and includes numerous building photos, while my March 18 2011 post provides further construction pics. Below are several more photos from last month, along with a pic showing The Florian’s location before construction of the condo tower commenced.

 

The Florian  Residences of Upper Yorkville condo tower

April 23 2011: Another view of The Florian’s brick and glass exterior

 

The Florian Residences of Upper Yorkville condo tower

April 23 2011: A view of the western point of The Florian’s long curved podium along  Davenport Road (at the top of Bay Street)

 

The Florian Residences of Upper Yorkville condo tower location

August 14 2008: An Infinity car dealership and a Premier Fitness gym previously occupied the site where The Florian is presently under construction

 

Toronto Reference Library

April 23 2011: Toronto Reference Library new main entrance construction

Corner cube: The dramatic new entrance “cube” for the Toronto Reference Library is gradually taking form on the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Asquith Avenue. That, plus an expansion of the library’s Yonge Street facade, are among the highlights of a five-year, $34 million makeover scheduled for completion next year. Construction photos and an architectural rendering of what the library will look like post-renovation can be viewed in my January 27 2011 post; additional photos and another rendering are provided in my March 24 2011 update post. Below are several recent photos of a construction worker atop the giant steel frame for the cube.

 

Toronto Reference Library

April 23 2011: The steel frame for the library’s glass entrance cube

 

Toronto Reference Library

April 23 2011: A construction worker sits astride one of the steel beams

 

Toronto Reference Library

April 23 2011: The entrance cube will stand about three storeys tall

Toronto Reference Library

April 23 2011: The library’s website explains that the bold glass entrance is intended to encourage “a dynamic interface” between the library and the community, “connecting the interior more directly to the street.”

 

One Bloor condo tower

April 30 2011: A billboard advertising the One Bloor condo tower sales centre

 

Number One: I’m still waiting on tenterhooks, figuratively speaking, for shovels to hit the ground at the One Bloor condo tower site on the southeast corner of Yonge & Bloor. Since my January 10 2011 post, the project developer has opened a new sales centre for the much-anticipated condo skyscraper right next door to the building site, at 33 Bloor Street East. But I haven’t yet seen any preliminary construction activity on the property, which remains a rubble-strewn vacant lot. Below are some pics of it from earlier this week.

 

One Bloor condo tower location at Yonge & Bloor

April 30 2011: Colourful marketing banners adorn security fencing around the One Bloor condo tower location at Yonge & Bloor

 

One Bloor condo tower site

May 1 2011: The One Bloor Condo tower site, looking southwest toward the corner of Yonge and Hayden Streets

 

One Bloor condo tower site

May 1 2011: The One Bloor site viewed from the west entrance to the Xerox building at 33 Bloor Street East

 

One Bloor condo tower site

May 1 2011: Northwest view of the One Bloor condo tower site

 

 

Florian condo tower getting window treatments

Florian condo tower in Yorkville

March 16 2011: Newly-installed windows are visible on the 5th floor

 

Glass going in: Window installation has commenced at The Florian highrise condo tower on Davenport Road in Yorkville.  When I walked past the construction site the other day, I noticed a row of new windows on the south side of the fifth floor, along with frames for upcoming curtain wall installation on the tower’s southwest corner. Below are several pics I snapped of construction progress to date; there’s many more building photos in my February 12 post about The Florian.

 

Florian condos in Yorkville

March 16 2011: South-facing windows on The Florian’s fifth floor

 

Florian condo tower in Yorkville

Frames for the curtain wall to be installed on the tower’s southwest corner

 

The Florian condo tower in Yorkville

The sharply pointed east corner of The Florian’s podium on Davenport Road

 

The Florian condo tower in Yorkville

Lower levels of The Florian, viewed from the south side of Davenport Rd.

 

The Florian condo tower in Yorkville

A long look up the south side of The Florian

Florian’s classy curves go with the Davenport flow

The Florian condos

The Florian’s long sweeping podium hugs the curve on Davenport Road


Ship shape: When I view The Florian from certain angles, I sometimes feel like I’m looking up at the prow of a tall, grand Cunard ocean liner, like the Queen Mary 2.

That’s the visual impact, on me, of the long, curved podium that draws to a sharp point at the east and west ends of the 25-storey luxury condominium complex currently under construction on Davenport Road, at the northern tip of Bay Street. It won’t be crossing any oceans, but from its berth along the big bend on busy Davenport Road, The Florian will overlook a steady stream of traffic flowing past. Away from the street, The Florian’s crescent-shaped site will be a sea of tranquillity, with lush secluded gardens and landscaped rooftop terraces. 

And like a Cunard liner, The Florian will exude class and sophistication: though it’s more than 80% sold, suites are still available at prices ranging from $1 million to more than $3 million.

A project by Diamante Development Corporation, The Florian was designed in a joint venture by Toronto architects Young + Wright / IBI Group Architects and David Pontarini of Hariri Pontarini Architects.

Below is a rendering of the condo entrance, from The Florian website, along with a series of photos I shot recently. More renderings can be viewed at this link on the Hariri Pontarini website.

 

The Florian Condos

The podium’s west tip reminds me of a ship’s prow


The Florian condos

The Florian condo tower viewed from the northwest tip of Bay Street


The Florian condos

Upper floor construction at The Florian on January 29 2011


The Florian condos

Safety netting and construction forms protrude from the upper floors


The Florian condos

Billboard outside The Florian condo presentation centre


The Florian condos

The Florian condo presentation centre on Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Looking up at The Florian tower from south side of Davenport Road


The Florian condos

South side of The Florian condo tower faces Bay Street


The Florian condos

The Florian’s lower levels along Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Graceful sweeping curve of the podium on Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Looking up the southwest corner of The Florian tower


The Florian

Brickwork on The Florian facade above Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Another view of the west point of The Florian podium


The Florian condos

Balconies on The Florian’s southeast corner


The Florian condos

Columns at street level on The Florian’s long curved podium


The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto

The Florian and the new Four Seasons towers viewed from Davenport Road


The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto

Another view of The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto towers


The Florian condos

Gracefully curved balconies on The Florian condo south side


The Florian condos

The Florian condo podium bends with the curve of Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Main entrance to The Florian will be under this point on the east side


The Florian condos

Website artistic rendering of The Florian condo entrance


The Florian condos

The Florian condo tower viewed from the east on Davenport Road


City Scene: Yorkville’s highrise building boom

Yorkville condo and hotel towers

Davenport Road (near Bay Street) view of new towers being built in Yorkville


Growing up: Construction activity is apparent in practically every corner of downtown, and the Yorkville neighbourhood is no exception.

Pedestrians and drivers approaching Bay Street along Davenport Road are greeted by this view of three highrise towers currently under construction: The Florian condo building (left) and the two towers of the new Four Seasons Toronto Hotel and Private Residences.

Meanwhile, just beyond the bend in the road, east of Bay, there’s more construction in progress.  Excavation is underway for the Milan condominium tower on Church near Yonge, while in a few years’ time there could be as many as three towers rising right behind The Florian on McMurrich Street.