Photos: James Bombales
Toronto’s Entertainment District is the midst of a construction boom as new condominium towers continue to rise at every corner. Adding to the area’s vitality is a new mixed-use complex by Plaza, currently under construction at the corner of Adelaide Street West and Widmer Street. Theatre District Condos consists of a pair of Quadrangle Architects Ltd.-designed towers rising 48- and 51-storeys.
The first tower will house 461 residential units while the second tower — Encore Theatre District Condos — features 210 residential units and a new 350-room hotel.
When it opens in 2021, the RIU Hotel will become the first Canadian location of the Mallorca-based resort hotel chain. The hotel will occupy the lower floors of the Encore tower and feature meeting rooms, a gym, bar and restaurant, while the upper floors will be reserved for residential use. Residential amenities will be located on multiple levels and include several lounge areas, a theatre, barbecue terraces and a swimming pool.
Residential suites in both towers offer thoughtfully-designed living spaces with interior design by Patton Design Studio. Floorplans offer open-concept one- to three-bedroom layouts with nine-foot ceilings, laminate floors, frameless glass showers and ceramic or porcelain tile floors in bathrooms. Kitchens include soft-close cabinetry, quartz countertops and a stainless steel appliance package.
Construction at Theatre District Condos began in early 2019 with the excavation of an existing parking lot as well as preparation work for the row of Victorian homes along Widmer Street which will be incorporated into the project. The rear portion of these heritage properties was demolished and the interior connections have now been sealed off with concrete blocks.
Excavation of the pit was completed through most of 2019 along with shoring work at all four sides. A lone excavator remains on the site as most of the excavation work for the four-level parking garage is now complete.
The project celebrated a major construction milestone earlier in 2020 as two tower cranes were installed on opposite ends of the pit. Rebar-reinforced concrete columns are also now visible as construction progresses upwards on both towers.
