Photos: James Bombales
Known for its leafy streets lined with large Victorian and Edwardian homes, Toronto’s Annex is one of the city’s most coveted neighbourhoods. Along its northern edge, in an area the developer is calling ‘the new Dupont,’ Tridel will soon be adding to the local residential mix with the completion of Bianca Condos in 2021.
Situated on the northeast corner of Dupont Street and Albany Avenue, Bianca replaces two industrial buildings with a Teeple Architects-designed mid-rise. Inside, the development will house 216 suites, luxury amenities and new retail spaces.
Construction on the project began in 2018 with the demolition of a three-storey industrial building at 275 Albany Avenue and a vacant one- and two-storey building at 420 Dupont Street. These were once home to the Mono Lino Typesetting building and the Wing’s food products company, known for its fortune cookies.
Shoring and excavation work continued for the remainder of 2018, along with the pouring of footings, followed by the assembly of two cranes in the summer of 2019. A major milestone was celebrated in spring 2020 when construction passed ground level, shifting into the above-grade phase, including the enclosure of the building envelope. Once complete, trades will begin working on the interiors, including the installation of internal mechanical and electrical systems, plumbing, stud walls, framing and insulation.
Today, workers are closing in on the building’s top floor and final height with concrete being poured on the ninth floor. Lower down, Bianca’s white precast cladding has been installed up to the fifth floor, giving a preview of the building’s distinctive shape and setbacks. Some windows on lower floors are also in place.
