Cladding has come a long way since September when we last checked in on the three buildings of Canary Landing in Toronto's West Don Lands. Being developed by Dream Unlimited, Kilmer Group, and Tricon Residential, all but the tallest of the buildings have now topped out — the tallest designed by designed by Toronto-based architects–Alliance and the shorter two by Copenhagen-based COBE Architects, and we now see highly textural precast panel cladding adhered to the bulk of their exteriors. 

Brick cladding applied to podium, image by UT Forum contributor Rascacielo

Our last story in September shared that cladding panels with Endicott ironspot brick veneer facings were just beginning to be applied to lower levels. In October, this shot of a few of those panels awaiting installation was posted to our dedicated Forum thread for the project.

Precast panels awaiting installation in October 2021, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor skycandy

As of today, the three podiums are now fully clad in the panels, the most easterly building in a more purple-hued brick. The brick-faced panels, while markedly modern in form, are meant to blend today's new buildings with the restored heritage structures of the Distillery District located just to the west.  

Cladding installation is now progressing upwards on the buildings' tower elements, presenting a lighter touch as they reach for the sky through white precast panels — curving and fluted on the COBE buildings while flat but angled-in-installation on the a—A building — that offer a more modern look that is meant to blend with the more contemporary designs of the recent Canary District buildings to the north.

Different textures of cladding at Canary District, image by UT Forum contributor Rascacielo

While windows now appear within the precast frames on the podiums, they are yet to be applied to the opening between the precast frames on the tower portions.. 

26-storey tower at Canary District, image by UT Forum contributor Rascacielo

The intended look of the finished buildings is rendered in the northeast-facing marketing image below. 

Looking west to Canary Landing, image via submission to City of Toronto

The Canary Landing project stands on one of the sites that was donated by the previous provincial government in an effort to jumpstart the creation of affordable housing. Of the total 756 rental units within the new buildings, 229 of them are to be affordable units, dispersed throughout the three buildings. 

The ground floors will be occupied by townhouses and amenity spaces, with two retail spaces located in the two westernmost buildings.

Full site shot of Canary District development, image by UT Forum contributor Rascacielo

UrbanToronto will continue to follow this projectm, but in the meantime, you can learn more from our Database file for it, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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