Category Archives: Burano condos

Bay Street towers at sunset

Bay Street towers at sunset

Bay Street condo and apartment towers stand in silhouette under fiery orange clouds during tonight’s sunset (as seen from my balcony east of Jarvis Street). The buildings topped by construction cranes are the two U Condos towers at Bay and St Mary Streets (far right) and the FIVE Condos tower at Yonge and St Joseph Streets (second from right). Bookending the view at far left are the Murano and Burano condo towers at Bay and Grosvenor Streets.

 

Winter building pics: February 2013

Above is a link to my February 2013 Flickr album of building and construction photos I shot during walks in the downtown area. Click once on the image to view a small-format slideshow of the pictures, or click twice to access the album directly on Flickr and see full-size photos and captions.

 

Winter building pics: January 2013

Above is a link to my January 2013 Flickr album of building and construction photos I shot during walks in the downtown area. Click once on the image to view a small-format slideshow of the pictures, or click twice to access the album directly on Flickr and see full-size photos and captions.

 

Passersby get good street-level views of Burano as condo construction hoarding comes down

Burano Condos

June 13 2012: The Burano condo tower, viewed from the north on Bay Street, has long been in public view as the construction climbed 50 floors above the ground …

 

Burano Condos Toronto

… and the 3-storey glass atrium at the north side of the Burano condo site is finally in full view, too, now that hoarding has been removed from Grosvenor Street

 

Burano Condos Toronto

 June 13 2012: Landscaping and construction of an Italian-style piazza is underway next to the atrium on the Grosvenor Street flank of the condo complex

 

Burano Condos Toronto

June 13 201: Most of the rebuilt Bay Street facade of the historic Addison automotive building is now visible as construction hoarding is gradually removed from the sidewalk

 

Burano Condos Toronto

June 13 2012: The new Women’s College Hospital building (left) rises behind the Burano condo complex, viewed here from the southeast corner of Bay and Grenville Streets

 

Better views: Construction progress on the Burano Condominium on Bay Street has been clearly visible for many months as the tower climbed 50 storeys into the sky, but now passersby are getting to see how downtown’s newest skyscraper looks at street level.

With exterior work on the Burano tower nearly complete, crews have been able to begin removing the wooden hoarding and the chainlink security fences that have obscured street-level views of the building, including its signature glass atrium on Grosvenor Street and the rebuilt brick facade of the historic Addison on Bay automotive showroom and garage along Bay Street and Grenville Street.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Crane to be removed from Burano condo tower

Burano Condo tower

This red and white crane has been a familiar sight above the Burano Condos construction site since the fall of 2009 …

 

Burano Condos cranes

… but it will soon be disassembled and removed from the top of the 50-storey tower. The portable grey jib crane behind it will finish off the remaining construction work on the building.

 

Job done: A familiar sight will soon disappear from the city skyline.

The red and white construction crane that helped build the 50-storey Burano condo tower is about to be disassembled and removed from the site, as signalled by the installation of a temporary jib crane atop the building during the past two days. Now that the heavy lifting is done, the big crane will be moved to another construction site, and the smaller jib crane will finish the work that remains on Burano.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Winter photo walks: Bay/College area Part 1

Burano Condos Toronto

February 9 2012: The south side of Burano Condos, viewed from Grenville Street

 

Progress updates: I had the opportunity to pass through the Bay & College area on my way to some recent appointments, so I brought along my camera to catch up on construction progress in the neighbourhood. My “winter photo walk” series will show you what I’ve been seeing:

 

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Snow day! Photos of some downtown construction sites after a light morning snowfall dusts Toronto

West Don Lands Community Toronto

The vast construction zone for the new West Don Lands Community is seen in this image taken by a Waterfront Toronto webcam this afternoon. The 80-acre site was blanketed with light snow this morning, less than 24 hours after Waterfront Toronto and Infrastructure Ontario announced that long-awaited construction is finally commencing on the new mixed-use residential community a short distance east of the downtown business district. The highrise under construction at upper left is the 40-storey Clear Spirit condo tower in the nearby Distillery District.

 

Aura at College Park Condos Toronto

Construction progress on the 75-storey Aura at College Park condo tower is seen in this image captured from a webcam on the Aura website.

 

Nicholas Residences condo construction Toronto

Excavation activity at the Nicholas Residences condo site near Yonge & Bloor

 

FIVE Condos site Toronto

Shoring work continues on the FIVE Condos site at Yonge & St Joseph Streets

 

FIVE Condos site Toronto

Snow-covered steel I-beams and construction equipment on the FIVE Condos site

 

ETFO office building Toronto

A worker directs traffic past the ETFO office building site on Isabella Street

 

ETFO office building Toronto

Another view of progress on the 4-storey ETFO office headquarters

 

X2 Condos Toronto

Overlooking the long, rectangular excavation for the 49-storey X2 Condos tower under construction at the southwest corner of Jarvis & Charles Streets

 

X2 Condos Toronto

Crews have nearly completed digging the deep excavaton for the X2 Condos tower. The construction crane is expected to be installed soon

 

45 Charles Street East Toronto

Interior demolition work continues on the eight-storey office building at 45 Charles Street East, future site of the Chaz.Yorkville condo tower.

 

45 Charles Street East Toronto

Despite the light snow cover, a drilling rig (rear right) was busy jackhammering a concrete pad at the northwest corner of the Chaz.Yorkville site

 

Burano Condos and Women's College Hospital Toronto

Two major construction projects at the southwest corner of Bay & Grosvenor Streets: Burano Condos, left, and the Women’s College Hospital redevelopment.

 

Womens College Hospital Toronto

The new Women’s College Hospital building has risen five floors so far on what was formerly the site of the hospital’s multi-level parking garage

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

The soaring glass atrium on the north (Grosvenor Street) side of Burano Condos

 

Burano Condos Toronto

A view of the atrium from the north side of Grosvenor Street

 

Burano Condos Toronto

A publicly-accessible piazza, designed by landscape architects Janet Rosenberg + Associates, will be constructed next to the atrium

 

Burano Condos Toronto

The sharply angled glass panels of the atrium provide a striking contrast to the condo tower that soars 50 storeys straight up above it

 

Harbourfront Centre York Quay parking garage construction

A Harbourfront Centre webcam image of progress on the new underground parking garage for York Quay Centre. Concrete floor slabs have been poured for the 3 below-grade levels, and work will start soon on the ground-level roof over the structure. New outdoor public spaces will be created on top.

 

 

Burano climbs into the 40 floors+ condo tower club

Burano condo tower Toronto

August 12 2011: Burano Condos, seen from the SE corner of Bay and College.  The tower has climbed to 40 floors atop its 2-storey heritage building base.

 

Bay Street beauty: The Burano condo tower has become the newest member of Toronto’s steadily growing club of buildings taller than 40 storeys. On Friday, I counted 40 full floors of concrete, glass and steel rising from Burano’s two-storey base, a reconstructed heritage building that once was home to the Addison on Bay auto dealership. That means construction crews have only 10 more floors to build before Burano tops off: eight additional condominium levels, plus a two-storey mechanical penthouse.

Burano has looked impressive for months as the trapezoid-shaped tower has gradually climbed higher on the downtown skyline. With its angled south wall accenting Bay Street’s bend to the west at Grenville Street, and the striking, sharp points at its northeast and southwest corners, the Burano tower attracts attention from all directions. Its base will make an equally dramatic architectural statement once its three-storey glass lobby is installed on Grosvenor Street.

A project by Lanterra Developments, Burano Condos was designed by Peter Clewes of Toronto’s architectsAlliance.

Below are several photos showing Burano’s construction progress during the summer. Additional photos can be viewed in my four previous blog posts on the project: June 11 2011, March 29 2011, February 21 2011, and January 7 2011.

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 14 2011: This view from Grenville Street shows Burano, left, and the two Murano condo towers built by the same developer and architectural team.

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 14 2011: Grenville Street view of Burano’s southwest corner

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 14 2011: The tower’s south wall is comprised entirely of windows. There are balconies only on the east and west sides of the building.

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 14 2011: One of the Murano condo towers reflects in Burano’s south windows while a construction elevator climbs the west wall

 

Burano condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 14 2011: A view from the south of the Burano Condos tower rising above the upper level of its two-storey restored heritage building base

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 21 2011: The former Addison on Bay auto dealership building has been completely rebuilt on the Burano site

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 21 2011: Another view of the reconstructed Addison building

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 21 2011: This billboard on the Bay Street sidewalk hoarding illustrates the dramatic glass lobby planned for Grosvenor Street

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

June 28 2011: A concrete pumping machine at work atop the Burano condo tower

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 1 2011: Burano condo tower viewed from SE corner of Bay & College Streets

 

Burano condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 13 2011: The upper south side of the Burano condo tower

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011:  Condos on the tower’s north side

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: Looking up the tower’s  south and east sides

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: The upper south side of the tower

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: North side windows and west wall balconies

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: Wall and floor forms on the tower’s south side

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: Grosvenor Street view of the Murano condo towers, left, and the north side of the Burano tower

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: Looking up the tower’s east and north sides

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011:  The tower makes a strong point at its northeast corner

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: Balconies near the tower’s northeast corner

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: A peek inside some of the condos on the north side

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 15 2011: Windows on the north wall

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street

July 17 2011:  Burano viewed from College Street just west of University Avenue

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 22 2011: A view from my balcony of workers atop the Burano tower

 

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 24 2011: Looking up the south side of the tower

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 24 2011: Balconies on the west wall and windows on the south

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

 July 24 2011: The south side of the tower is a tall wall of windows

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 24 2011: Wellesley Street view of the Murano condos, left, and Burano

 

Burano condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 31 2011: My balcony view of the crane atop Burano at sunset

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

July 27 2011: Upper floors of the tower viewed from the west

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

August 2 2011:  My balcony view of a concrete pumper at work atop Burano

 

Burano condos on Bay Street Toronto

August 12 2011: Windows on the tower’s south side

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

August 12 2011: The Burano tower, left, its heritage building base, center, and the south Murano condo tower on the east side of Bay Street, right

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

August 12 2011: Looking up the tower’s west and south sides

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

August 12 2011: Looking up the tower’s west side

 

Burano Condos on Bay Street Toronto

August 12 2011: Looking up the tower’s east side

 

 

Reflections in windows of new Burano condo tower add a golden glow to my skyline view at sunset

Burano condo tower

Windows in the Burano condo tower under construction on Bay Street reflect a deep golden glow at sunset on June 6 2011

 

Golden glow: For the past few months, I have been able to see a slim section of the new Burano condo tower’s east side from my own condo windows and balcony. Most of my view of Burano’s construction on Bay Street has been blocked by the 21-storey Ontario Coroner’s Courts building (the George Drew building) that sits a half a block to the east at 25 Grosvenor Street. I’ll be able to see much more of Burano once it rises a few floors higher in the next several weeks and overtakes  not only the coroner’s building, but also the Murano North condo tower at the corner of Bay and Grosvenor, and climbs closer to its final full height of 50 floors. But Burano already makes a striking impact on my views of the city skyline to the west — especially at sunset on clear days. On those occasions, Burano’s east windows reflect a deep golden glow as neighbouring buildings bounce the sunset against them. And during some brilliant sunsets, the reflections become so intense that Burano’s windows radiate a fiery, molten-lava-like glow that can be painful to watch without sunglasses. The sight reminds me of how Royal Bank Plaza looks when it reflects sunshine from certain angles. Below are several more recent pics of Burano’s golden glow.

 

Burano condo tower

June 6 2011: Burano condo tower windows viewed from the east

 

Burano condo tower

June 1 2011: The Burano windows have an ember-like glow as the sunset fades

 

Burano condo tower

June 3 2011: A fiery reflection off the Burano windows at sunset

 

Burano condo tower

June 3 2011: At left is the Murano South condo tower; at right, the top floors of Murano North rise above the Ontario Coroner’s Courts building on Grosvenor Street (officially known as the George Drew Building, it has no windows on its east and west sides). Burano will be the tallest building of the bunch once completed.

 

Burano condo tower

June 3 2011: It’s not until sunset that the Burano windows begin to glow boldly, as this photo taken earlier in the evening shows

 

 

City Scene: Burano gaining on the Muranos

Burano and Murano condo towers on Bay Street

Catching up to its cousins: The Burano condo tower, left, is slowly but surely closing in on the height of the two Murano condo towers on the opposite side of Bay Street. When topped off at 48 floors, Burano will be the tallest of the bunch — Murano North is 35 storeys, while Murano South is 45. All three condo towers, seen here on March 25 2011, are projects of Lanterra Developments.

 

 

Historic Addison on Bay building reconstruction partially revealed at Burano condo site

Addison on Bay at Burano Condos

Part of the reconstructed Addison on Bay building was revealed this week when protective wrapping was removed from the facade on Grenville St.


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

This is how the building looked in September 2008 when it was being dismantled to make way for construction of the Burano condo complex


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

This artistic rendering from the Burano Condos website suggests how the reconstructed building will appear as part of the new condo complex



Addison’s back on Bay! The Addison on Bay Cadillac dealership closed four years ago, and the historic Addison building itself completely disappeared from the landscape during late 2008 and early 2009. But the building is right back where it had operated as a car dealership since 1925 — only now it’s going to have an entirely new life and function as part of the Burano luxury condo complex currently under construction.

The Addison showroom at 832 Bay Street was designated a historical property by the City in 1999. The dealership continued in business for another eight years after that, but finally shuttered its doors in the middle of March 2007. Despite its prominent, lengthy history downtown, the dealership was forced to close the Bay Street business because of “economic factors, including the increasing cost of maintaining a central downtown location,” dealership president Clarke Addison explained in a letter to customers. (Further details about the Addison site and the demise of the downtown dealership were reported in a Toronto Star story published on March 2, 2007.)

Though the downtown location ceased operations, the Addison car business continued — in Mississauga where, as Addison Chevrolet, it’s that city’s “youngest General Motors dealership.”

But the Bay Street property wouldn’t sit idle for long.

Addison had been operating not just the historically-designated showroom and a repair garage  on the west side of Bay, between Grosvenor and Grenville Streets, but also a new and used car display lot on the east side of the street, also between Grosvenor and Grenville.

Lanterra Developments ultimately acquired the properties on both sides of Bay, and built the two-tower Murano condo complex on the east side. Since the summer of 2008, it has been building Burano on the west property. During the fall and winter of that year, the Addison showroom was dismantled so the site could be excavated for the condo tower. Once the foundation for the new complex had been built, reconstruction of the Addison building commenced.

Protective sheeting has blocked the facade from public view for the past three months, but a section of wrapping was removed from the Grenville Street wall of the structure late last week.

Below are some pics I took while the Addison building was being dismantled and then re-assembled. There’s also some pics of the newly revealed Addison facade on Grenville Street, along with other recent photos showing construction progress on the Burano condo tower. An album of Burano pics from the beginning of construction to this month can be viewed on the Photo Sets page of the blog.

 

Addison on Bay Burano Condos

October 13 2008: The Addison on Bay building gradually being dismantled


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

November 22 2009: Foundation work begins in the Burano condo excavation


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

May 2 2010: Addison building takes shape during reconstruction


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

May 2 2010: Another view of the Addison building reconstruction progress


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

July 26 2010: Grenville St. view of frame for new Addison building


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

November 9 2010: Rebuilding progress before the structure went under wraps


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

December 21 2010:  Frame of building partly visible  under wraps


Burano condos

February 9 2011: Murano tower, crane seen from College St. at University Ave.


Burano Condos

February 9 2011: Burano viewed from Grosvenor Street near Surrey Place


Burano Condos

February 20 2011: Burano construction progress viewed from College Street


Burano condos

February 20 2011: Burano viewed from southeast corner of Bay and Grenville


Burano Condos

February 20 2011: The unwrapped Grenville Street facade viewed from Bay Street


Burano condos

February 20 2011: Reconstructed Grenville Street facade is exposed


Addison on Bay Burano Condos

Another view of the reconstructed Addison facade on Grenville



Going up: Burano makes a statement on Bay Street

Burano Condos viewed from corner of Grenville and Bay on Jan. 5 2011

 

 

Bold new building for Bay: It’s only approaching one-third of its ultimate height, but the Burano Condos tower already makes a strong visual statement on Bay Street.  With its sharply-angled northeast and southeast corners, and freshly-installed reflective windows putting a shiny face on its six lower floors, Burano is attracting plenty of attention these days. Artistic renderings (below) show what the 50-floor tower is expected to look like when completed; the photos that follow show how far Burano’s construction was coming along this week.

 

 

Burano Condos construction entrance on Grosvenor Street

 

Concrete pumper and construction crane atop Burano Condos tower

 

Windows recently installed on southeast side of Burano Condos tower

 

Southeast corner of the Burano Condos tower

 

North side of Burano Condos tower viewed from Grosvenor Street

 

Northwest side of Burano Condos tower viewed from Grosvenor Street

 

A nearby building reflects in windows on the north side of Burano Condos

 

Looking up at Burano Condos tower from Grosvenor Street

 

Northeast corner of Burano Condos tower

 

Burano construction crane reflects in the Murano tower across Bay Street