TORONTO | Highrise Developments Compilation Thread

[C.]

Originally Posted by Northern Light

The previous City Councillor was adamantly opposed to more height here. The request was put through the regular planning channel (not minor variance); and Council has had a regular meeting since July, because it was an election year.

I imaging the report on this will be at one of the first couple of meetings of the new Community Council, then Council thereafter. (haven't spoken w/planning staff, just a guess)

It will have to come with additional community benefits. But the proponent new that, and I don't imagine that's a material issue.

I lean that its likely this will go through now, but its not a given. The two principle arguments against it are both to do w/precedent, to my understanding.

One is about the absolute height, and the knock-on effect on other applications proposed or incoming.

The other is 'a deal is a deal'. The height was worked out after extensive negotiation w/the Planning Dept. and the local Councillor. There is some wariness about suggesting you can get approved at height 'x' and come back and vary it during construction.

I can already hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth when the PROPOSED height increase doesn't get approved, at least not at the height everyone expects. Today is the first time I've seen an acknowledgement in this thread that it isn't a done deal.

[Maldive]

Some "floor count" ‘scraper trivia from UrbanToronto:

If SkyTower is approved @ 105 storeys - it would have the most floors in North America after Willis (Sears) in Chicago.

One World Trade Centre = 94 storeys
All the other recent supertalls in NYC - most floors i= 98 storeys
The Empire State Building = 102 storeys (more like 90s or less (?) with a dozen tiny floors leading to the observation level).


Akra | 74.17m | 22s | Curated Properties | RAW Design l pre-construction


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Cool brick colours.


AlbertC


Artists' Alley | 121.91m | 39s | Lanterra | Hariri Pontarini l u/c

Took a long time for this one to get into gear, but its starting to fly. Gotta love HPA… creating great new (curvy) spaces all over the city.


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Rascacielo

Rascacielo

First cladding.

Rascacielo

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The Well | 174.03m | 46s | RioCan | Hariri Pontarini l u/c

Just a few more close-ups of HPAs’ signature curves… done right (yes the glass should curve too Mr. Developer ;-).


Red Mars

Red Mars

Right of centre from a distance. Note the cranes left of centre standing perfectly in formation.


Ottawan


Mirvish Village (Honest Ed's Redevelopment) | 85.04m | 26s | Westbank | Henriquez Partners l u/c

Bathurst side shaping up nicely with the mix of new and heritage, different glazing and cladding.


stanko

Northern Light

Love those (throw-back) metal balcony guards.


Northern Light

Stepping down to meet the rest of the neighbourhood from the taller buildings on Bloor and Bathurst.


Northern Light


Peter and Adelaide | 152.39m | 47s | Graywood | BBB l u/c

From a distance the black framing helps a bit (at least on the east elevation)… with this spandrel-infested mess.


Red Mars

Red Mars

As rendered:

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As built (agggg… my eyes!):


Red Mars


BRIEF INTERMISSION: Here’s a nice view from Casa Loma to soothe your eyes… because I made you look at Peter and Adelaide above.


DJI_0065 by Clement Lo, on Flickr


T3 Sterling Road | 52.52m | 11s | Hines | DLR l u/c


Pretty massive mass timber construction on Sterling Road.


Braeforth

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ADRM

ADRM

ADRM

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King-Liberty GO Station | ?m | 1s | Metrolinx l site demolition

Getting Liberty Village connected.


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Site demo.

ProjectEnd

Wonky Mississauga

M1 & M2 at M City | 197.81m x 2 | 60s x 2 | Rogers Real Estate | Core Architects l u/c


khaldoon

torplanner

torplanner

torplanner

The 2 cranes in front of M1 and M2 in the photo below are the first few floors of M3 under construction at 260.30 metres and 77 storeys. The excavation in the foreground is for M4 which is 215.50 metres and 67 storeys.

Sales for M5 were launched last March which will be the 5th of the eventual 8 tower community.


khaldoon

That crazy fog rolling a week ago.


khaldoon

[Maldive]

Pinnacle One Yonge | 346m | 105s | Pinnacle | Hariri Pontarini l u/c

Some thoughts on this new (uninspired) rendering of the taller SkyTower just released. See below:

Though I do miss the triangular “filgree” motif of the previous version, that was purely cosmetic not structural like The One’s angled hangers.

Given how well the fritted glass balcony glass turned out for Phase 1 here (though all the glass had to be completely replaced due to manufacturing defect lol ;-), I think the combination of curtain-wall and the fritted+transparent glass shapes of balconies for SkyTower will turn out very nicely… and this tower will look far better as constructed versus this fairly lame rendering.

Many times actual builds (materials etc.) fail to live up to their eye-candy renderings but on occasion the built result is better than those “artist impressions”.

I’m betting SkyTower will be one of those cases, especially given the quality(?) of the rendering. Podium looks improved too.


steveve

PHASE 1 - the swooping fritted balcony glass being replaced on Phase 1.


skycandy

[Maldive]

55 Mercer | 155.5m | 47s | CentreCourt | IBI Group l u/c

Glazing.

God I love CentreCourt. Lessens the sting of the Pemberbums.


ProjectEnd

ProjectEnd

I humbly present proof ^ that a developer can match or exceed their rendering promises (don't look to the left though ;-).


Sugar Wharf Condominiums (Phase 1) | 231m | 70s | Menkes | a—A l u/c


Riseth

Riseth

Riseth

Hey somebody at UT figured out what the abstract “Sugar” Wharf balcony pattern references… sugar crystals (smart deduction):


Link

[Maldive]

396 Church | ?m | 43s | Podium | IBI Group l pre-construction

This one is perfectly timed as it’s right next door to Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) … who stupidly cancelled the 174 metre Henning Larsen-designed mixed-use students' residence tower (with space for 590 students, along with classrooms etc.) in favour of a 14 storey re-design with a fraction of the residential space.



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New plan for a 14 storey mixed-use TMU building (with far fewer residences):


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Cancelled 41 storey Henning Larsen mixed-use tower design with residential space for 590 students:


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[Maldive]

The One | 338.3m | 94s | Mizrahi Developments | Foster + Partners l u/c

Lots more forming up and getting closer to another big pour on the mechanical levels.


Benito

Benito

A peek inside the elevator core (still hard to believe there could be nearly 80 more floors of this core… floating above the (core-less) Apple Store at grade).


Benito

Throwback: the massive super-columns and angled steel above grade that have to support the tower (and its residential elevator core) above.


jer1961


The 7 Projects of Booming University Avenue from Adelaide to College (the old and the new, the built, under construction and approved/proposed).

RECAP:

The United BLDG | 179.52m | 52s | Davpart | B+H l demolition-heritage retention

The largest heritage retention project in Canada has been at work for years and getting closer to a construction start.


Red Mars

The entire heritage facade propped up by massive amounts of steel to allow future excavation.


Red Mars

Red Mars

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The United Building is on the right. To the left is 505 University (see below).


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505 University | 212.89m | 64s | Cartareal Corp | BDP Quadrangle l pre-construction

This BDPQ design would replicate* the building on site as a 12 storey office podium with a residential tower on top. (*the pitchforks are out regarding the replication issue)


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522 University - a proposed 62 storey mixed-use tower by WZMH on top of the existing building.


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250 University - a now approved 47 storey residential building atop the existing heritage building. No-one likes this heritage treatment either.


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200 University - a KPMB design proposed at 187m and 47s (33 residential storeys added on top of the office building).


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700 University Avenue - an approved 4 storey addition to the exist 24s office building and a 56 storey triangular residential tower behind.


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488 University Avenue (completed) - 37 floors of residences added atop a completely renovated and structurally-strengthened 18 storey office building.


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The angled bracing to reinforce the 18 storey office building:


Red Mars


Residences of RCMI (completed 2013) - a 42 storey residential tower atop of a 2 storey (rebuilt) heritage building.


yonderbean

[Maldive]

Pinnacle One Yonge | 346m | 105s | Pinnacle | Hariri Pontarini l u/c


wmedia

Couple of renderings I’ve haven’t noticed before from HPA, including a view to the west of the office component and the residential podiums (3 towers). Also some interior atrium shots that look more recent.


3D

Atrium between podiums.


3D
Source: https://hariripontarini.com/projects/one-yonge/

[Maldive]

The Bread Company | 67.8m | 20s | Lamb Dev Corp | a—A l u/c

Nudging its way to grade.


AlbertC

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Little doubt whose project this is lol.


AlbertC


EQ Bank Tower | 105.18m | 23s | First Gulf | Sweeny &Co l u/c


mcornett

mcornett

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Riseth


Aqualuna at Bayside | 61.87m | 18s | Tridel | 3XN l u/c

Climbing above grade at last (can’t wait ;-).


Riseth

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Ikov.rc

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George Brown College: Limberlost Place | 52.5m | 10s | George Brown | Moriyama & Teshima l u/c

Lower Don Lands (new river valley) at the top of the photo.


tripwire

Riseth

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Riseth


Hyatt Place / The 203 Residences on Jarvis | 108.2m | 32s | Manga | IBI Group l u/c


ShonTron

Rascacielo


699 Lawrence West | 131.66m | 40s | Midtown West Residences | Core Architects l pre-construction

Bit of height* for Lawrence Avenue (*perhaps too much as this is being challenged at the Ontario Land Tribunal aka OLT). Residential and retail.


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Toronto may not be near a mountain range… but the skyline is a mountain range.


kris

[Maldive]

Rush Condos | 44.96m | 15s | Alterra | BDP Quadrangle l nearing completion


Red Mars

Link

Now this is a cool way to treat a parking garage entrance.


AlbertC

[Maldive]

South Station | 130m | 40s | Devron Developments | 3XN l pre-construction

Another nice 3XN-designed mixed-use project with 498 residential units, retail, daycare and a community centre. Located near the Weston GO Station, which also is a stop for the Union Pearson Express train to the airport.


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Love 3XN's attention to the details (they are also designers of the stunning AquaLuna among others).


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[Maldive]

Cambridge Suites Redevelopment | 230.85m | 71s | Centennial Hotels Limited | WZMH l pre-construction

Calling all engineering geeks. Very interesting story on the engineering plans to add the 50 storeys on top of the existing building.

‘Kevin MacLean, partner at RJC Engineers, is excited about the challenges posed by one of his firm’s current projects, the redevelopment of Cambridge Suites Hotel in Toronto’s financial district. “As an engineer, this (type of project) is what gets you out of bed in the morning,” he says.

The post-modern building at 15 Richmond St., completed in 1990, was the first all-suites hotel in Canada. Its adaptive reuse will include stripping the original 21-storey building to its concrete core and shell and adding 50 new storeys on top to create a 71-storey mixed-used development with 565 residential units.’

FULL STORY on how they’ll do it is here: https://canada.constructconnect.com/...1-storey-tower


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8 Elm | 218.2m | 69s | Reserve Properties | IBI Group l pre-construction

So much for the buying freeze… 500 out of 630 suites were sold here in about one month (October).

They should be closer to a start given the typical 70% sales benchmark that green-lights many residential projects. This is a joint project between Reserve Properties and Capital Developments.

8 Elm has been working in collaboration with MARVEL star, Simu Liu whose design chops were involved in many aspects of the tower, including suite interiors and amenity programming. This is far and away the best thing IBI Group has ever designed for Toronto (maybe the whole planet ;-).

So many of IBI’s designs seem to be little more than copy and past… and repeat (imo).


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4800 Yonge Street | 168.24m | 49s | Menkes | Arquitectonica l excavation

Motoring along without the need for sales targets… this one is rental.


Undead

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This Arquitectonica landmark for North York will rise (taller) behind the curvy green Emerald Park towers seen in the right foreground below.

Nobody talks much about North York, but it looks pretty much as big (and soon taller) as Ottawa no?


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)

Link


The Well | 174.03m | 46s | RioCan | Hariri Pontarini l u/c

Nice Norman Li aerial of everything. You just can glimpse “the spine”, the curvy glass canopy than runs east-west and north-south through the podiums/retail.


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)

Mmmm… terracotta.

Red Mars

Northern Light


Canary Landing | 89.61m | 26s | Dream | COBE Architects l u/c

The former industrial wasteland now mega construction zone known as the West Don Lands.


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)

jackattack

jackattack


Centre is “Prestige” - Phase 1of One Yonge Street, with SkyTower’s podium rising on the left and demoliton/site prep underway for Menkes 3 tower (up to 299 metres) Sugar Wharf Phase 2, just to the right of centre.


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)


Foreground is Bloor Street growing taller east to west.


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)

[Maldive]

CIBC SQUARE | 241.39m | 50s | Hines | WilkinsonEyre l u/c

Phase 2 core rising in front of the park/deck over the rail corridor that will join it to Phase 1.


bbto32

bbto32

Big angled steel for the part of the tower that cantilevers over a slice of the rail corridor.


DarkSideDenizen

On the far left, note the expensive new CIBC logo on the Phase 1 tower… that no-one without a helicoper can see. Norm obviously has a helicopter ;-).


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)


The Rosedale on Bloor | 185.92m | 55s | Gupta | IBI Group l u/c

Appropriate for November 11th.


Rascacielo

Just left of the green faux copper roofs of Rogers HQ near the centre of the photo.


AlbertC (from Air.Norm - Noman Li’s Insta)


Queen Central | 106.23m | 34s | Parallax | IBI Group l demolition-heritage retention

Located right door to the HPA-designed 88 Queen tower (and HPA’s The Elm and The Ledbury).


JustElena

Rascacielo

UT

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160 Front West | 239.87m | 46s | Cadillac Fairview | AS + GG l u/c

The steel work will be very interesting soon when the sloping curved crown starts to form.


Red Mars

Red Mars

Easily the best new curtain-wall seen in decades in the city (sorry CIBC Square… you’re great too).


khaldoon

AlbertC

“Prestige” Phase 1 of Pinnacle One Yonge (in the centre) won’t be lonely for long as SkyTower will rise just to its right (perhaps as much as 105 storeys ;-).

This view to the south will also change dramatically when CIBC Square 2 rises right in front of CIBC Square Phase 1 (turned 90 degrees to an east west orientation).


jackattack


Eight Cumberland | 170m | 51s | Great Gulf | a—A l u/c

Looking south-east to the Yorkville skyline (with Eight Cumberland u/c in the centre).


A Torontonian Now

^ This photo above is a a similar angle to this rendering below of “The One”, though if it gets its height increase it will look quite a bit taller.


UT


Paclo


U of T: University College Revitalization l Kohn Shnier + ERA l renovation complete (October 2022)

Mixed reviews for this just-opened “intervention” but Canadian Architect Magazine likes it (a lot).

Mezzanine

canadianarchitect.ca

Spiral staircase

canadianarchitect.ca

A new “dragon scales” elevator shaft is clad with overlapping copper tiles.

canadianarchitect.ca

A domed ceiling with better acoustics and adjustable lighting for Croft House.

canadianarchitect.ca

Full article: canadianarchitect.com/strategic-interventions/


University and Dundas Future Model - Stephen Velasco:

Tons of stuff under construction and proposed north-west of City Hall at University and Dundas (centre of rendering). City Hall is also surrounded by proposed and approved projects to the east and north-east (top right in the rendering).


steveve


Beautiful shot of Eau du Soliel in Humber Bay Shores on the right, with Mississauga in the distance.


AlbertC

[koops65]

Downtown aerial, looking South:

[IMG][/IMG]

[Maldive]

Forma | 308m | 84s | Great Gulf | Gehry Partners l demo/site prep soon

Looks like barriers and construction hoarding being set up for Phase 1 demo/site prep. Frank will be pleased. Penthouse sold for $20 million.


daptive

Phase 1 is the shorter tower on the right below (263 metres - 73 storeys).


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[Maldive]

The One | 338.3m | 94s | Mizrahi Developments | Foster + Partners

Lots of cladding delivered to the 3rd floor. Hope the worker who unwraps this stuff isn’t off sick.


BloorMan

BloorMan

Pouring super-columns today.


BloorMan


255 Morningside | 89m | 25s | First Capital | Diamond Schmitt l pre-construction

First phase of a large block plan, this one condo and retail.


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Block plan

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U of T: Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre | ?m | 20s | U of T | Weiss/Manfredi l u/c

What a great building. Looking forward to the larger Phase 2.


AlbertC

Red Mars


CIBC SQUARE | 241.39m | 50s | Hines | WilkinsonEyre l Phase 2 u/c

Phase 1

kris

kris

kris

Phase 2

kris

More demo/prep work on the tunnel to make way for the elevated PATH walkway from the Phase 2 over Yonge Street.


polesingularity



A view to the south from St. Clair Avenue.


gregv

[Maldive]

3750 Bathurst | 98.5m | 30s | Grmada Holdings Inc | WZMH l pre-construction

30 and 11 storeys of condo and retail.


UT

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Site located just west of Bathurst beside Hwy 401.

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[Maldive]

Forma | 308m | 84s | Great Gulf | Gehry Partners l site prep

Neat angle on Phase 1 (263 metres - 73 storeys).


designlinesmagazine.com

Stainless steel c/u.

ushahid


designlinesmagazine.com


Pinnacle One Yonge | 344.58m | 105s | Pinnacle | Hariri Pontarini l u/c

SkyTower will rise just left of Phase 1 (right of centre in the photo). The gap between One Yonge and the 2 towers of Sugar Wharf Phase 1 (right of centre) will be filled one day by the 3 towers of Sugar Wharf Phase 2
(now in demolition-retention/site prep @ 299 metres).


kotsy

mburrrrr

kotsy

All the Phase 1 balcony glass now replaced.

mburrrrr


mburrrrr

SkyTower podium.

mburrrrr

kotsy

From late October.

mburrrrr


160 Front West | 239.87m | 46s | Cadillac Fairview | AS + GG l u/c

Nice progress drawing from Contra that hints at how much steel is yet to come above the elevator core to craft the curving angled crown.


Contra

Contra

mburrrrr

Red Mars

Heritage work.


Red Mars

Red Mars


49 Ontario Street | 150.4m | 42s | Dream | a—A l pre-construction

This one grew with the tallest now above 150 metres. New renderings for the 42, 39 and 11 storey mixed-use buildings that will be 100% rental, to go along with office and retail. Located along Ontario Street south to Adelaide (between Sherbourne and Parliament).

42 storeys will be very tall for the neighbourhood.


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Woodbine Soccer Training Facility + Stadium I Woodbine Entertainment l pre-construction

In addition to training facilities announced earlier, some renderings released for the proposed stadium, a new 8,000 seat home for York United FC (Canadian Premier League).


FW36

Colour co-ordinated fireworks included.

FW36

Training facility.

FW36


Love Park | 3m | 1s | City of Toronto | CCxA l u/c


Geekaroo

The site back in spring 2017 just before the demolition of the off ramp began.


FC_

Underwraps in the first photo above are the thousands of hand-laid red tiles that will create the red heart.


TigerTail

Close-up of 2 styles of pavers, typical of Cormier’s attention to the details.


TigerTail

Rascacielo

f_gho

[H2O]

Originally Posted by Maldive

3750 Bathurst | 98.5m | 30s | Grmada Holdings Inc | WZMH l pre-construction

30 and 11 storeys of condo and retail.


UT

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Site located just west of Bathurst beside Hwy 401.

UT

I really don't like the stubby 'twin tower' on top of the podium of the lower 'tower'. I wish they had continued the cladding vocabulary of the podium all the way up, or developed a completely different vocabulary for the 'penthouse' portion on top of the podium that was not similar to the actual tower.

[Maldive]

Originally Posted by H2O

I really don't like the stubby 'twin tower' on top of the podium of the lower 'tower'. I wish they had continued the cladding vocabulary of the podium all the way up, or developed a completely different vocabulary for the 'penthouse' portion on top of the podium that was not similar to the actual tower.

I'm sorry but I almost laughed (in disbelief?) that one of just a few comments... in a thread that has had 100,000 silent views in the past 3 months... is about a little project on Hwy 401.

I really thought your comment would be in reference to "Love Park" since we've discussed public realm stuff in the past.

I guess it caught your eye though.

[Maldive]

Toronto’s already dense Entertainment District, west of the very tall King and Bay core (seen in grey on the right), will also be very tall one day:

includes 3 supertalls, 2 of which are approved (Gehry’s FORMA and UnionPark) and another approved at 299 metres (BIG’s terraced Union Centre).


steveve


261 Queen East | 112.95m | 33s | Tricon | Hariri Pontarini l site demolition

Big site demolition almost complete.

Includes heritage retention around much of the new build which includes 33 and 24 storey mixed-use buildings. Office, retail, Public Space / Park, and 795 market-rate rentals.


Jonny5

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Centricity Condos | 170.65m | 53s | Graywood | Turner Fleischer l pre-construction

Sales launch early 2023 for this TF tower whose only job imo is to help block the ghastly Pemberton “Social” u/c across the street.

“Social” is on the right in the rendering below but suffice to say… what’s being built is a spandrel-infested mess and looks nothing like the render. I never thought I'd be cheering on sales for a Turner Fleischer design,
but desperate times call for... Centricity is on the left.


UT

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Centricity's location is below:


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Sales centre just left of centre being readied for a January sales launch. Top right is (anti) Social’s spandrel feast and bottom right is excavation for CentreCourt’s 252 Church Street.


victory18

252 Church Street (52 storeys - 166 metres - excavation.


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