Photos: James Bombales
88 North Condos by St. Thomas Developments Inc. is the first phase of a 2.5-acre, master-planned community that will occupy a full city block in Toronto’s downtown eastside.
The site is bounded by Queen Street East to the south, Shuter Street to the north, Mutual Street to the east and Dalhousie Street to the west. When complete, the community will consist of multiple residential towers, including a pair of rental towers by Fitzrovia Real Estate, new retail and other amenities.
The first phase is situated on the northeast corner of the block and features a 27-storey glass tower designed by IBI Group. Construction on the initial phase started in 2017 when crews first broke ground to excavate the large surface parking lot that previously occupied the site.
Today, 88 North Condos is topped-off and nearing the finish line with much of its exterior completed. At ground level, the podium is still fenced off but expansive glass panels provide a peek inside the residential lobby and retail units.
However, it’s the building’s higher floors that really stand out with its mishmash of balcony shapes and sizes that protrude from a reflective glass skin. The podium’s facade is defined by a series of box-shaped volumes that frame multiple balconies, while the higher floors have a playfully random placement of protruding balconies, including some corner units that wrap around the structure.
While the first phase is wrapping up, construction on the south end of the site has just begun. Here, excavators and other heavy machinery continue to excavate sections of the site after shoring was completed earlier this year. This area will house two purpose-built rental buildings by Fitzrovia Real Estate and a second condominium by St. Thomas Developments Inc. called 88 Queen.
The second condominium boasts modern architecture by Hariri Pontarini and interiors by Cecconi Simone. Situated south of the first phase, 88 Queen will rise 51 storeys and house 569 units ranging from 514 to 2,290 square feet.
