As The James at Scrivener Square by Tricon Residential and Diamond Corp rises in Toronto's Summerhill neighbourhood, its final height has been increased from 21 to 23 storeys by a July 2024 minor variance approval. This site at Yonge and Price Streets is across the street from the former North Toronto Rail Station. The station operated from 1916 to 1930 and is now the flagship of the Summerhill LCBO. With the design of The James more than half complete, the pedestrian space between them is beginning to hint at its final form.
Looking southeast at The James at Scrivener Square, Toronto, designed by COBE Architects and Graziani + Corazza Architects for Tricon Residential and Diamond Corp
It's been five months since UrbanToronto's last update, when the first floors of the COBE Architects-designed complex were completed, and now, in parallel with the vertical growth, cladding and glazing specified by architect of record Graziani + Corazza Architects are being installed.
In June 2024, two additional floors were built since the last upgrade, bringing the total to six. When the following image was taken, a cement truck was parked at the east end and a red concrete pump was parked on the seventh floor to the left of the tower crane. On the third floor, white precast concrete cladding was installed on the west side of the north facade, continuing across the west facade and over the second floor setback. This precast cladding will frame the building and contrast with the traditional red brickwork of the lower floors.
Looking east at the first precast cladding of the third level, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo
Looking northeast across Price Street in August 2024, at least 10 floors have now been built next to Terroni restaurant, including the upper floors wrapped in blue weatherboard. The building's volumetric design is evident in the thicker concrete slab above the second floor leading to a step at the southwest corner, with additional steps at the right end above the third floor and centrally above the fourth. The walls of the lower four floors are wrapped in a white weatherboard membrane, waiting to be clad in brick.
Looking northeast from Price Street, photo by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo
This month, 13 floors were completed. The prefabricated white aluminum frames were installed on the third through sixth floors in both the projecting western and eastern counterparts. The first two floors, as well as the third level of the eastern side and the recessed center of the fourth floor, were lined with weatherproofing material in preparation for the red brick masonry. The first two floors of the northwest corner are in the process of installing glazing.
Looking southeast at the first glazing installation for the first two floors on the northwest corner, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo
We get up close to see the first bricklaying process on the lower floors, hidden behind various building materials and equipment.
A close-up of the bricks being laid for the lower floors, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo
Looking east from Yonge Street, the west facade shows the progress of glazing on the first two floors. Tall, rectangular windows divided by thin, black vertical mullions with metal louvre grilles installed above have been installed alongside insulation material. Above this, precast cladding will frame the shadowbox curtain wall system of the upper floors. The building's setback at the south end places it behind the adjacent low-rise commercial buildings, whose brickwork resembles that of the James at Scrivener Square.
Glazing of the west facade seen from Yonge Street, photo by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo
With occupancy planned for 2025, the recently approved minor deviation increased the final height from 81.65 m to 88.21 m and the total number of residential units from 120 to 127.
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more about it in our database file linked below. If you'd like, you can join the conversation in the associated project forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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