Photos: James Bombales
Project: Garrison Point
Builder(s): Diamondcorp , Cityzen Development Group and Fernbrook Homes
Architect(s): Hariri Pontarini Architects
Project: Novus Apartments
Builder(s): BentallGreenOak Residential Services
Architect(s): Hariri Pontarini Architects
A 7.75-acre parcel of land once occupied by vacant industrial and warehouse space is now in the midst of a major transformation. Known as the Ordnance Triangle for the street that runs through it, and its location between two rail lines that converge towards the downtown core, the area will soon be home to thousands of new residents.
Two large developments are currently under construction including Garrison Point Condominiums on the northeastern portion and Novus Apartments on the south. Both projects consist of two high-rise towers, while a fifth tower is proposed for the northwestern corner of Ordnance Street and Strachan Avenue.
Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the towers of Garrison Point each topped off last fall and now stand 29- and 35-storeys above the Ordnance Triangle, creating a new skyline in Toronto’s west end. The tower crane of the shorter south building has already been removed while the crane on the north building is expected to be dismantled in the coming months. Outside, window wall installation is mostly complete as crews continue to install the project’s distinctive white exterior cladding and balcony glass.
The ground level of each building houses the development’s two-storey urban townhomes. The townhomes on the north building still have a lot of exterior work and framing that needs to be completed, but the ones on the south building give a glimpse of what they will eventually look like. Entryways include a small porch and feature warm wood-tone panels that contrast nicely with the building’s white cladding. The panels are echoed on the second floor within the home’s upstairs terrace. Occupancy at Garrison Point is expected to start later this year.
Situated opposite of the Garrison Point towers — on the same small wedge of land — construction on two rental towers are well underway. Developed by BentallGreenOak Residential Services and designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the Novus Apartment complex will add at least 424 units to the city’s much needed rental inventory when construction wraps up later this year.
Viewed from Strachan Avenue, the complex is progressing quickly with both towers now at around 22- to 23-storeys tall. Crews on lower levels are simultaneously installing exterior materials including the window wall system and a creme/blue-grey-coloured wall cladding and spandrel panels.
A large span of windows on the multi-level podium have also been installed. This area will be home to a mix of commercial and retail spaces fronting both Ordnance Street and Strachan Avenue. A 52,813 square-foot grocery store is expected to take up the second level retail space and a paid membership gym is planned for the smaller space on the third floor.
Elsewhere in the neighbourhood, the new Garrison Crossing pedestrian bridge officially opened to the public last October. Made of stainless steel, the bridge is the first of its kind in Canada and consists of two sections as it spans the two rail corridors. The 52-metre northern bridge spans the Kitchener Rail Corridor from the South Stanley Park extension, and the 49-metre southern bridge connects the south side of Ordnance Triangle Park to the grounds of the Fort York National Historic Site.
