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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.