February 2011

Waterfront Construction Wins ‘Best of the Best’ Award

Waterfront Toronto’s first phase of construction in East Bayfront received a 2010 ‘Best of the Best’ Award from the Toronto Construction Association. The award recognizes builders who have completed extraordinary projects and demonstrated outstanding leadership and business practices.

To choose a winner, the judges evaluated projects' impact on the community and their innovative and high-quality building techniques.  Superior environmental practices as well as on-time and on-budget performance were also key award considerations.

The project area, which stretches from the Jarvis Slip to just east of Lower Sherbourne Street, included extensive municipal infrastructure work as well as important new public spaces such as Canada’s Sugar Beach, the Water’s Edge Promenade  and Sherbourne Common. Eastern Construction Co. Ltd., construction manager for the project was honoured in the medium-sized project achievement category.

See the complete list of the 2010 Best of the Best winners.

Sherbourne Common Skating Rink

Despite snowstorms and cold temperatures, skaters have been enjoying the Sherbourne Common skating rink since it opened on January 31. Located just south of Queens Quay Boulevard between Lower Sherbourne and Bonnycastle streets, the 920 square metre rink offers fantastic views of Toronto’s downtown skyline.

Initial reviews of the skating rink have been overwhelmingly positive. The Toronto Star wrote that the park’s new skating rink is “a reminder that soon enough this area will come alive.” BlogTO called the rink “a welcome addition to the ever redeveloping Toronto waterfront” and parenting blog savvymom.ca said the rink “boasts incredible views and a first-hand look at one of the widely anticipated waterfront revitalization projects along the Lakeshore.”

The skating rink, operated by the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department is serviced by a Zamboni and cleared of ice and snow once a day.  Washroom facilities are available in the Pavilion between the hours of 9am and 10pm. The city will operate the skating rink until February 27 which is the end of its official skating season.

Video: Gliding into the future
Take a tour of the Sherbourne Common skating rink with Christopher Hume of the Toronto Star.

Check the Waterfront Toronto webcam for a live look at the skating rink.

Living City Report Card

Waterfront Toronto has been recognized by The Living City Report Card for its leadership in sustainable land use planning.  Issued by Toronto Region and Conservation and CivicAction’s Greening Greater Toronto, the 2011 Report Card is an assessment of the current environmental health of the GTA.

To measure the environmental health of land use planning, this year’s Report Card assessed several key sustainability indicators including greenspace, green buildings and development intensification. In its assessment, the Report Card acknowledged Waterfront Toronto’s leadership in creating high quality, accessible greenspace by building the largest revitalization project in North America and establishing the waterfront as a “vibrant public destination.” The report cited Waterfront Toronto’s greenspace accomplishments including the “16 new or improved parks opened since 2005.” It also lauded Canada’s Sugar Beach, Sherbourne Common and the Water’s Edge Promenade, all of which opened in 2010.

The Living City Report Card is the most in-depth analysis of the environment and the activities that drive environmental health of any Canadian city region. The data and information contained in the Report Card were compiled and analyzed by scientists and other experts from governments and a variety of organizations. To learn more about The Living City® Report Card or to see how the region scored across all six categories, download the full report.

York Quay Underground Garage: Construction Update

Major construction is now underway on the new underground parking garage at York Quay on the Harbourfront Centre site. Over the past couple of weeks, crews have been building a temporary road on the east side of the 1.4 hectare site to provide access for construction vehicles. The road is now complete and being used by construction vehicles exiting the site onto Queens Quay.

In mid-February, crews began drilling caissons, deep holes which are filled with structural concrete pillars, to support the area prior to excavation. Caisson drilling is expected to be complete by mid-April at which point site excavation will begin.

The York Quay Construction Liaison Committee, made up of property managers from adjacent condominium buildings and representatives of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association and the Waterfront BIA, will meet in early March to discuss any issues local residents and businesses may have with construction to date. If you have feedback about construction, call (416) 214-1344 or email info@waterfrontoronto.ca
 

York Quay Construction Webcam
Watch construction of the parking garage, which is expected to be complete in 2010, live from Harbourfront Centre’s live webcam.

Portland Slip Water’s Edge: Construction Update

The City of Toronto’s construction crews are continuing to reinforce and repair the dockwall at the Portland Slip next to the Canada Malting Silos.  This work, which began in late November, is part of a large Waterfront Toronto and city project to create a new vibrant promenade at the water’s edge and a safe way to access Ireland Park.

Crews are currently driving sheet steel pilings to provide structural support for the dockwall. This work requires crews to take columns of wood, steel or concrete and drive them into the ground along the length of the dockwall. Crews are expected to complete sheet steel pilings by the end of the month and will then begin steel framing and supports for the new dockwall and promenade.

Once the city’s repairs are complete, Waterfront Toronto will begin construction on a first phase of water’s edge promenade along the slip. The promenade, like the one opened last summer between Canada’s Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Common, will feature granite pavers with a two-toned red and grey maple leaf mosaic pattern. A double row of native maple trees will line the promenade offering shade and wind protection.
The city expects to complete dockwall repairs this summer and the revitalized promenade is scheduled to open in spring 2012.

Portland Slip Water's Edge. Photo courtesy of DTAH.

West Don Lands Pan Am Athletes’ Village Update

Infrastructure Ontario in partnership with Waterfront Toronto has released a request for proposals (RFP)inviting the three short-listed teams from the earlier request for qualifications process to submit proposals to design, build and finance the development of the section of the West Don Lands that will be home to the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village.

The three highest scoring, short-listed teams include companies with proven experience and capabilities in financing, designing, developing and constructing large and complex projects. The short-listed teams are:

Dundee Kilmer Developments Limited

    – Dundee Realty Corporation – Equity Investor, Developer
    – Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited – Equity Investor, Developer
    – EllisDon Corporation – Design Builder, Constructor
    – Ledcor Design Build (Ontario) Inc. – Design Builder, Constructor
    – Brookfield Financial Corp. – Financial Advisor
    – architectsAlliance – Joint Venture Architect
    – Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg – Joint Venture Architect
    – Daoust LeStage Inc. – Urban Design Architect
    – TEN Arquitectos – Design

Legacy Village Partners

    – Lend Lease – Master Development Partner, Equity Provider, Project Lead
    – Concert Properties Ltd - Master Development Partner, Equity Provider, Market
       Rental Developer/Owner
    – Tridel – Development Partner, Equity Provider of Market Condo Component
    – PCL - General Contractor
    – Deltera - General Contractor
    – Scotia Capital Inc - Financial Advisor
    – IBI – Design Team Lead
    – Gehl Architects – Urban Quality Consultants
    – Teeple Architects – Student Residence Design
    – Wallman Architects – Affordable Housing Design

Village Infrastructure Partners (VIP)

    – Fengate Capital- Equity Investor
    – The Conservatory Group – Equity Investor, Developer, Constructor
    – The Pemberton Group – Equity Investor, Developer, Constructor
    – Saddlebrook - Constructor
    – Laing O’Rourke – Design Build coordination
    – National Bank - Financial Advisor
    – TD Securities - Financial Advisor
    – B+H Architects – Lead Architect, Coordinating Architect
    – RegionalArchitects – Design Lead
    – EI Richmond – Design Lead
    – Arquitectonica – Design Lead
    – West 8 – Lead Architect (Landscape)

Once submissions to the RFP are received and evaluated, the successful team is expected be selected and announced in summer 2011. A copy of the RFP is available on Infrastructure Ontario’s website at http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/panam/village/index.asp

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Great Waterfront Trail Adventure

For the past three years, Toronto’s waterfront has hosted participants of the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure.  Cyclists from all over the world come to discover the WOW Factor, the Wonderful Ontario Waterfront, by riding 740 km over 8 days from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Ontario/Quebec.

This fully supported tour explores the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. It is a fun and exciting event that travels through 41 communities, and includes an overnight stay in Toronto’s Fort York.

Join for the full eight days from July 2-9, 2011 or start in Toronto on July 4 for a memorable recreational ride. Register today at  www.waterfronttrail.org.