Once home to a downtown Greyhound bus depot and offices, the property at 158 Front Street East is now on its way to becoming a large mixed-use community.
Known as the St. Lawrence Condominiums, the two-tower residence by Cityzen Development Group and Fernbrook Homes will house 494 units, with both towers rising 26 storeys above Front Street East and Sherbourne Street.
Work began on the project in 2011 when the Greyhound building was demolished. The site was then used as a parking lot for several years as the project went through the planning, approval and sales processes.
In 2017, the project officially broke ground as pile drivers and other heavy machinery were brought onsite to start the shoring and excavation phase. The following year saw crews dig four storeys underground before two tower cranes were installed in fall 2018. The next big milestone was achieved in summer 2019 when construction reached grade level, and a year later, the two towers began rising quickly into the city’s eastern skyline.
Today, the architectsAlliance-designed residence stands at approximately 19 storeys tall, as workers continue to pour concrete for subsequent floors. The first of several cantilevered design features is now visible on the west tower as the building shifts sideways, creating a staggered and stacked profile. This section of the building’s massing rises nine storeys and is topped by a four-storey section that aligns with the lower section of the tower. The east tower will have a similar stacked design along Sherbourne Street, though the cantilevered sections will be located at different floor heights.
Lower down, much of the building’s shared podium is enclosed and covered in a dark brick cladding and dark-tinted windows. Inset balconies are also visible, though most still have temporary safety railings in place.
When complete, the St. Lawrence Condominiums will comprise a variety of suite layouts, from studios to three-bedroom units. Onsite amenities include a fitness centre, library, party room, theatre room, and a rooftop lounge and pool.
