State of Construction: Process Relies on Planning, Timing, Precision

FEATURES CONSTRUCTION CONDITION
February 27, 2026 by Rick Muller 1K

Construction status: The process depends on planning, timing and precision

Throughout February, UrbanToronto is offering a special editorial series, State of Construction, covering all of the critical issues facing construction in our region.

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Architect Frank Gehry’s Forma is one of the most anticipated buildings to be built in Toronto in decades. Currently rising in the heart of the entertainment district on King Street West, the 73-story East Tower is not only perhaps the most visually stunning condo tower ever built in the city, but also represents the maestro’s legacy to his hometown as his final Canadian project, as we sadly lost the legend last December. With its crumpled aluminum cladding giving us a glimpse of what’s to come, it’s destined to become a statement building on Toronto’s skyline.

Forma is also a perfect example of the many steps involved in the construction process. Building a large commercial or condominium project in Toronto is one of the most complicated and disciplined undertakings in today’s modern world. It’s a delicate, choreographed puzzle with countless pieces that all fit together with exact timing and precision to produce the final result.

Looking northwest at Forma’s east tower under construction, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor khaldoon

Long before a project breaks ground, developers typically hire construction companies to participate in preconstruction services while also working with critical path subcontractors to prepare for the work ahead. Preconstruction, construction, and postconstruction proponents are typically involved in each step of the construction process, with the construction phase of the job typically focusing on the critical path to substantial completion. Substructure, above-ground structure, shell and commissioning/completion are critical components of the construction phase of a project.

“A robust preconstruction and planning phase includes a procurement strategy,” says Andrew Anderson, senior vice president and area manager, Toronto at EllisDon, one of the largest construction companies in the country, noting that procurement is an important benchmark and step in the entire process. “Procurement of the critical work packages with trades whose scope represents the critical path for the project provides the greatest certainty regarding the achievement of budget and/or schedule goals and objectives. We rely on our experience and monitor various established metrics to ensure proper project progress and compliance with planned milestones.”

According to Anderson, the timing of different steps in the construction process varies depending on the project. “We have found success in leveraging prior experience and data to support ‘common’ components,” he says. “For other project-specific complexities and challenges, we leverage our extensive internal research and development and construction science groups to support project teams in finding the right solutions, technologies and tools for on-site implementation.”

EllisDon is the construction manager for Forma, which has presented the company with some unique challenges when building buildings on such a tight site.

Construction crews apply the first cladding to Forma, image by Southcore, UrbanToronto Forum contributor

“Forma features a unique and intricate exterior cladding design and significant planning and effort such as logistics and quality control measures went into the planning and execution to ensure success,” says Anderson. “Due to the height of the building and the advantages it offers in terms of efficiency and safety, the project uses an automated climbing frame system (ACS).”

Construction crews lift a cladding assembly at Forma, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ehambobam

While planning and coordination are key elements of the steps in the construction process to meet all possible eventualities, there is one variable that no one can control, especially Mother Nature. As Torontonians know all too well from this winter of 2026, weather can have a significant impact on the construction process.

“Wind particularly impacts taller buildings because cranes can only operate safely when the wind falls below a certain speed, making it difficult or unsafe to operate in very strong winds,” says Jim Ferris, senior manager, estimating services, PCL Constructors Canada Inc., another major player in the industry. “Snow and rain can impact supplies and workers on a construction site, complicating working conditions and impacting productivity, just as extreme heat or cold can impact worker productivity. We know we have difficult weather here in Toronto, so we are planning for this and considering ways to minimize the potential impact on our projects.”

A few blocks southeast of Forma stands 160 Front Street West, the landmark office tower at Front and Simcoe Streets, where PCL served as construction manager for the 46-story, 750-foot-tall, 1.2 million-square-foot tower for two anchor tenants. The nighttime outdoor lighting package is now turning heads as a highlight of Toronto’s skyline and could inspire developers to be more creative in the future.

Construction crews work on the steel beams at the crown of 160 Front West, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor mburrrrr

“PCL’s in-house building envelope experts optimized the design and constructability of the curved cladding that wraps all four exterior walls and incorporates the historic masonry of the 70-year-old, six-story building that previously occupied the site,” says Ferris. “Structural steel was used in conjunction with a concrete core to distribute weight evenly throughout the building, maximizing the footprint and enabling the tower to be constructed efficiently within a busy urban environment.”

Construction crew member on a scissor lift at the crown of 160 Front West, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Red Mars

Construction of the remarkable tower also included PCL’s work on the Simcoe Street PATH Tunnel, which connects the building to Toronto’s PATH network. All of this requires an exceptional amount of planning as part of the construction process, and the companies that handle these tasks are much more multidisciplinary than the average person might realize. When you see construction fencing being erected on a construction site, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes, and for a lot longer, just to get to that stage.

A nighttime bird’s eye view looking northeast at 160 Front West with the historic walls visible on the southeast corner, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Skycandy

“What is often overlooked by the outsider is the complexity and sophistication of the design,” says Ferris. “We probably have more in-house knowledge and expertise in design and engineering disciplines than people might realize, and spend a lot more time planning than most people would expect.”

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UrbanToronto’s research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe – from proposal to completion. Other services include instant reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from the first application.​

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Thank you to the companies joining UrbanToronto to celebrate State of Construction Month.