What was once the centre of the Torontonian nightlife has seen impressive changes over the past decade. Condominium towers now overlook the Entertainment District and the corner of Richmond and Peter streets is the current hot spot of development. 

Queen Richmond Centre West, by Allied Properties REIT, illustrates the transformation of the bustling neighbourhood. By adding a new ultra-modern structure on top of a restored warehouse, QRC West is becoming a landmark and represents a model of densification, by combining a heritage building and 13 floors of much-needed new office space to this part of downtown.

QRC looking north on Peter street, image by Jimmy Wu

Since our last post in August two new floors were added to the structure, now reaching 16 storeys. Sustained works on the highly-reflective curtain wall brings the glazing up to the sixth floor of the concrete shell. 

The frame that will hold the lobby's glass wall, image by Red Mars

Both the lobby and skylobby will be sealed from the elements with an innovative mast truss glass system. The frame recently added will support the glass wall helped by a series of spreaders and trusses placed along it. Vertical trusses will prevent the wall from lateral movements and ensure its stability. This technology, still rare in Toronto, offers an almost complete transparency and will allow the grandiose steel structure of the lobby to be visible from the outside.

Framing for cladding over the lobby of the building, image by scamander24

With only one floor to go before topping-out, the building is taking its final shape and it becomes easier to picture its final impact on the skyline, more specifically on Richmond and Peter streetscapes.   

When completed next year, Queen Richmond Centre West, designed by Sweeney &Co Architects and engineered by Stephenson Engineering, will eventually reach a height of 17 storeys, bring 300,000 square-feet of efficient office spaces to the vicinity and is targeted to receive the LEED Gold Certification. The three X-shaped delta frames will be the centrepiece of the 70 foot-high lobby, bringing a spectacular element to the Peter-Richmond intersection.

Looking west on Richmond Street, with QRC in the distance and Picasso under construction in the foreground, image by Jimmy Wu

QRC West is located across the street from Tableau Condominiums and the well underway Picasso Condos, respectively 36 and 39 storeys high. These new developments will certainly add an impressive urban character to the rapidly-changing Richmond Street. 

Additional information and renderings can be found in the dataBase files, linked below. If you want to get involved in the discussion, head to the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment below.