The United BLDG, largely hidden within Canada's largest historic preservation project, witnessed extensive and highly complex substructure work over many months at the northeast corner of University and Dundas in downtown Toronto. Now the future 54-story tower rises behind the preserved walls of the historic Maclean Publishing Company and Maclean-Hunter buildings. Designed by B+H Architects under the heritage conservation lead of ERA Architects, this Davpart project also recently received a small density bonus following the approval of a Minor Variance Application, adding two levels for a total of 54 floors.
Looking northeast towards the United BLDG, designed by B+H Architects and ERA Architects for Davpart
UrbanToronto last provided an update in January 2024 when the first tower crane was erected. A second tower crane has since been installed before the southwestern view of the site was captured in June 2024. Extensive bracing can be seen, supporting the single-span preservation of the two largest buildings previously located on the site.
Looking southwest across the intersection of Edward Street and Center Avenue at two cranes in the United BLDG in June 2024, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor yrt+viva=1system
Looking northwest in July 2024, we see that construction is one story short of reaching grade, having built upwards from the bottom of the four-story excavation – three stories lower than the previous buildings, preserving the walls incredibly complicated. At the northwest corner of the site, new steel trusses can be seen behind the blue mast of the crane, which stabilize the historic components and transfer their load to the ground.
Looking northwest at substructure approaching grade, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Red Mars
Facing southwest in August 2024, the work has reached its level and crew members are arranging rebar for the floor slab and columns.
Construction crews work on grade with the truss system in the background, image by Northern Light, UrbanToronto Forum contributor
We rise into the sky and look east to marvel at the terrain. The G-shaped outline of the historic walls almost surrounds the construction area. The site begins clockwise at the top and is bounded by Center Avenue, Dundas Street, University Avenue and Edward Street. The northeast corner, where two smaller buildings were removed, serves as a staging area for materials.
A top view looking east at the site, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ymr9889
In this September 2024 view north, the south facade shows the preserved historic facades along Dundas Street West; As the process progresses, numerous restoration work still needs to be carried out. On the right is the Maclean Publishing building, built in 1928, with a two-story, high-arched structure of the ground floor windows. On the left, the 1961 Maclean Hunter Building displays its clean International Style lines and complements the neighboring Beaux Arts building. The second story slab of both buildings will be cut one bay deep along the Dundas Street facade, creating a sheltered arcade and effectively more than doubling the width of the sidewalk here. The building's entrances will face the arcade, including new direct access to the St. Patrick subway station.
An aerial view of the south facade, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Towered
As of this month, construction work has been underway well above grade and the ceiling of the third floor is now being formed. The curved concrete slab along the northeast corner outlines another future entrance, which will eventually be clad in a combination of curtain wall glazing and stone.
Looking southwest at state-of-the-art structures, image by Busybeaver, UrbanToronto forum contributor
With the July Minor Variance approval, the final height of the United BLDG increases from 179.52 m to 184.85 m and the number of condominium units increases from 709 to 743 suites.
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more in our database file linked below. If you'd like, you can join the discussion in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the designated area on this page.
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