Cladding Going Up for Crosstown Towers as Two Cranes Come Down

While the controversial sudden closure of the Ontario Science Centre dominates the headlines, work is progressing on the nearby Crosstown Community across Eglinton Avenue East at Don Mills Road. This 14-building, 60-acre community-planned development is transforming the former Celestica site, once IBM's Toronto base. The new development in the south of the Don Mills neighbourhood will be anchored by the soon-to-open Science Centre station on the Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown LRT, which will also eventually house the northeast terminus of Ontario Line 3.

Looking northeast at Crosstown Towers I, II, III and The Crest, designed by Core Architects for Aspen Ridge Homes

Designed by Core Architects for Aspen Ridge Homes, the community's first residential phase consists of One Crosstown Towers I, II, III and The Crest and includes three high-rises, a mid-rise and townhomes ranging in height from 3 to 44 storeys. Since UrbanToronto's last update in December 2023, three tower cranes have been dismantled, two towers have been completed and cladding installation has begun.

Tower I is visible on the left in this May 2024 drone image. Its 32-story tower is nearly complete, and work is currently underway to complete the mechanical penthouse. The cladding installation has risen approximately six stories above the base buildings. The historic exterior facades of the IBM offices, built in 1967 and designed by John B. Parkin, were saved.

An aerial view looking south of the cladding installation for Tower I (left), Tower II (centre) and Tower III (right), image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor TwinHuey

At top center, Tower II shows approximately 20 completed floors and the formwork is visible at its apex. To the right, Tower III shows approximately 23 completed floors and the first cladding adorns the first residential floor above the three-story podium. In the background, the curved, mid-rise crest, which has reached its apex, presents a completed mechanical penthouse, whose construction crane will be dismantled in March 2024.

In this close-up below, Tower I on the left shows dark cladding materials extending for approximately nine stories, emphasizing a staggered facade that features increasing setbacks from right to left. This cladding is complemented by narrow, rectangular windows reminiscent of the Parkin Base building below. Likewise, Tower II on the right shows three stories of cladding in the same materials, with setbacks running from left to right.

Installation of cladding and glazing on the south facade of Tower I (left) and II (right), image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor flonicky

Looking southwest in June 2024, we focus on the east and north elevations. Tower III, positioned to the left, features three to four stories of cladding and glazing. All three towers will feature distinctive two-story sections with pronounced columns structuring the exterior elevations. These can be seen several stories below the top of Tower III and in the middle of Tower I in the background. The latter has reached the mechanical penthouse, whose tower crane was recently dismantled in early July 2024.

Looking southwest towards Towers I, II, III, The Crest and townhouses, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor toronto647

This close-up view looking southwest focuses on the townhouses and The Crest. On the left, the townhouses feature grey precast brick cladding wrapping the first floor. This facade is punctuated by rectangular glazing and projecting balconies. On the right, The Crest stands at its highest elevation, with a construction hoist still attached to its north facade. Its white cladding, prettily patterned with windows, wraps around the structure, while setbacks on the east facade create a transition in height and design from the lower townhouses to the taller towers.

Installation of cladding for the townhouses (left) next to the rounded crest (right), image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor toronto647

Once completed, the high-rise towers will have a height of 109.46 m to 129.86 m. Occupancy is planned for the first half of 2025. A total of 1,273 residential units will be built in this phase of development.

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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