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.
January 10 2013: Looking up from the University Avenue median at construction progress on the RCMI Residences tower at 426 University Avenue
Approaching 30: Won’t be much longer before construction of the RCMI Residences condo tower starts to soar above Zurich — the Zurich Insurance Canadian headquarters at 400 University Avenue, that is.
When I passed by the RCMI Residences building site this afternoon, workers told me that tower construction is now up to the 29th floor, on its way to 44. (I am certain they were mistaken about the final floor count; the project was approved on October 26 2009 by Toronto City Council on the basis of a September 18 2009 city planning report for a proposed 42-storey mixed-use building.)
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August 25 2012: The RCMI Residences condo building on University Avenue below Dundas Street has climbed above 10 floors on its way to 42
August 25 2012: Simcoe Street view of the west side of the slender tower
This artistic rendering of the RCMI Residences tower once appeared on the website for its developer, Tribute Communities. It shows how the condo tower will compare to neaighbouring office highrises and hospitals on the west side of University Avenue
RCMI on the rise: Now that construction has climbed more than 10 floors, the condo tower being built on the site of the historic Royal Canadian Military Institute is beginning to make a big visual impact on University Avenue.
RCMI Residences will rise 42 storeys at 426 University Avenue, just below Dundas Street, and will tower above the adjacent office buildings to its north and south. The 312-unit building will include new facilities for the military institute on its first six floors, and will incorporate the rebuilt heritage facade of the RCMI’s 100-year-old headquarters, which had to be dismantled in 2012 to make way for condo construction.
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November 25 2011: Construction of the Residences at RCMI condo tower continues to quickly approach street level
November 17 2011: Looking across the Residences at RCMI condo construction site from a small window in hoarding along University Avenue
This rendering of the 42-storey Residences at RCMI on University appeared on hoarding next to the construction site
RCMI set to rise again: Only 11 months ago, construction workers were still in the early stages of preparing to excavate the University Avenue site for the 42-storey Residences at RCMI condo tower. As of last week, crews were just several meters below grade as they continued filling in the building’s underground levels. Soon, they’ll be visible working above ground.
A project of Tribute Communities, Residences at RCMI is rising on a narrow site that extends from the west side of University Avenue to Simcoe Street, just below Dundas Street West. The property itself had been home to the Royal Canadian Military Institute for more than 100 years, whose Edwardian-style heritage building that formerly occupied the site is perhaps best remembered by passersby for the two British army cannons (from the Napoleonic wars) outside its main entrance. That building was demolished in late 2010 to make way for condo construction, but part of its historic facade will be rebuilt into the tower’s base. The Institute itself will be returning to the site, occupying the first six floors of the new complex. (The canons will be coming back, too.)
Most of the building’s 312 units have been sold; however, the project website shows that several 1-bedroom and 1-bedroom + den condos are still available, ranging from a 494-square-foot 1-bedroom priced at $386,660 to a 763-square-foot 1-bedroom + den going for $504,450.
Residences at RCMI was designed by Toronto’s Zeidler Partnership Architects.
Below are some of my photos of the condo tower’s construction progress, along with building illustrations that appear on the project website. The “about us” page of the Royal Canadian Military Institute website has links to illustrations and renderings depicting its new library, bar and dining room. My January 12 2011 post includes photos of the former RCMI building as well as early stages of the new tower’s construction.
From the Tribute Communities website, this illustration depicts a view of Residences at RCMI from the southeast on University Avenue
From the Royal Canadian Military Institute website, this illustration shows how the facade of the former RCMI headquarters will be rebuilt into the condo tower base
November 17 2011: RCMI condo foundation progress viewed from the northeast corner of the construction site, looking west toward Simcoe Street
November 17 2011: A concrete truck delivers a load on Simcoe Street
November 17 2011: Construction activity viewed through a small window at the southwest corner of the hoarding along the University Avenue sidewalk
November 17 2011: Construction is closing in on street level
October 8 2011: Crews made substantial progress on the building foundation in the five weeks since this photo was taken
October 8 2011: Looking west across the condo tower excavation
September 3 2011: Excavation viewed from Simcoe Street, looking east
September 3 2011: Another Simcoe Street view of the RCMI condo site
September 3 2011: Construction crew entrance off Simcoe Street
August 12 2011: A view of the RCMI condo site from the east side of University Avenue. The tower will soar above the office buildings that bookend the north and south sides of the construction site.
July 17 2011: Simcoe Street view of the condo tower excavation
July 17 2011: Another site view from Simcoe Street
July 17 2011: The military institute will occupy the first six floors of the building; the private condos will occupy the upper 36
July 17 2011: Looking west to east across the condo tower excavation
February 18 2011: Ten months ago, excavation was just in the early stages
Tower rendering on hoarding at the RCMI Residences construction site
The cannons will come back! Preliminary excavation work is underway for Residences at RCMI on University, the 42-storey condo tower that will rise on the site of The Royal Canadian Military Institute at 426 University Avenue (just south of Dundas Street).
When the slender glass highrise opens in several years, it will house “a completely modernized RCMI [on] the first six floors, complete with its distinctive cannons dutifully rolled back to their guarding positions,” the RCMI notes in its website description of its novel construction venture with builder Tribute Communities.
The tower design incorporates the facade of the RCMI’s former building, which had occupied the site from 1890 until its demolition last fall. The RCMI is a private social club for former military officers and civilians with interests in the military; it also owns and maintains “Canada’s largest privately-held military library.” Its current membership “is drawn from all walks of life, including the Reserves, the Regular Forces, academe, and business across Canada and abroad. Increasingly, our new members are concerned with information technology and other business affairs related to security issues.” Undoubtedly, buyers at RCMI Residences will feel secure in their sleek new digs once they move into the completed condo complex.
Below are photos I snapped of the RCMI building before it was demolished, along with photos of construction progress to date and renderings of the RCMI tower.
The Royal Canadian Military Institute on March 11 2010
The Royal Canadian Military Institute on March 11 2010
The Royal Canadian Military Institute on March 11 2010
Hoardings around the RCMI Residences site on Nov 29 2010
RCMI Residences construction viewed from Simcoe Street Jan 3 2011
RCMI Residences construction viewed from Simcoe Street Jan 3 2011
RCMI Residences construction viewed from Simcoe Street Jan 3 2011
RCMI Residences construction viewed from Simcoe Street Jan 3 2011
RCMI Residences construction viewed from Simcoe Street Jan 3 2011
Hoarding at RCMI Residences construction site on Jan 3 2011
RCMI Residences tower rendering
RCMI Residences facade rendering
RCMI Residences tower rendering