
The most boring part of constructing a high-rise, like One Delisle, has got to be installing the shoring piles. Sure there are big rigs moving about on site but, for the most part, there's almost no visible progress. That is, until you start excavating. Then you get to see said piles and you also end up with a big hole, which is something.
Thankfully shoring works are now complete at One Delisle and we have started on the big hole part (see above photo from our rooftop cam). The next major milestone will be our "bottoming out," and that's when the tower crane will go up and our massive raft slab foundation will get poured. Visible progress is certainly more fun.

Thursday mornings have become my construction site time. I start off at Junction House. I walk the site with the team. We meet and use a lot of profanities. And then I head over to One Delisle for a similar set of activities. It is one of my favorite times of the week because, as a developer, you get to see all of your work coming together in a real and physical thing.
The views can also be pretty nice. Here is photo of the downtown skyline from Junction House this morning (there was a bit of fog):


The most boring part of constructing a high-rise, like One Delisle, has got to be installing the shoring piles. Sure there are big rigs moving about on site but, for the most part, there's almost no visible progress. That is, until you start excavating. Then you get to see said piles and you also end up with a big hole, which is something.
Thankfully shoring works are now complete at One Delisle and we have started on the big hole part (see above photo from our rooftop cam). The next major milestone will be our "bottoming out," and that's when the tower crane will go up and our massive raft slab foundation will get poured. Visible progress is certainly more fun.

Thursday mornings have become my construction site time. I start off at Junction House. I walk the site with the team. We meet and use a lot of profanities. And then I head over to One Delisle for a similar set of activities. It is one of my favorite times of the week because, as a developer, you get to see all of your work coming together in a real and physical thing.
The views can also be pretty nice. Here is photo of the downtown skyline from Junction House this morning (there was a bit of fog):

This week AN announced its 2022 Best of Design Awards, which is intended to celebrate outstanding built and unbuilt architectural projects from around the world. And this year I am excited to share that Studio Gang was awarded two editors' picks: one for 11 Hoyt in Brooklyn (Built-Residential, Multi-Unit) and one for One Delisle here in Toronto (Unbuilt-Residential, Multi-Unit). Selfishly, it of course makes me very happy to see our project being celebrated for its architecture. Go team! But from a less selfish perspective, it also makes me very happy to see Toronto being recognized in these awards. Because this is about city building, right?
I know this goes without saying, but I think it is crucial to walk one's sites. There's no way to do this in sweatpants over Zoom. You need to see the details. You need to build relationships. And you need to problem solve with the team. It's also a great opportunity to learn -- generally and from mistakes -- and get better as a professional.
Here's the thing about development: sometimes you're flying at 10,000 feet and sometimes you're talking about how many layers of drywall are appropriate for demising walls. It's a lot of fun.
This week AN announced its 2022 Best of Design Awards, which is intended to celebrate outstanding built and unbuilt architectural projects from around the world. And this year I am excited to share that Studio Gang was awarded two editors' picks: one for 11 Hoyt in Brooklyn (Built-Residential, Multi-Unit) and one for One Delisle here in Toronto (Unbuilt-Residential, Multi-Unit). Selfishly, it of course makes me very happy to see our project being celebrated for its architecture. Go team! But from a less selfish perspective, it also makes me very happy to see Toronto being recognized in these awards. Because this is about city building, right?
I know this goes without saying, but I think it is crucial to walk one's sites. There's no way to do this in sweatpants over Zoom. You need to see the details. You need to build relationships. And you need to problem solve with the team. It's also a great opportunity to learn -- generally and from mistakes -- and get better as a professional.
Here's the thing about development: sometimes you're flying at 10,000 feet and sometimes you're talking about how many layers of drywall are appropriate for demising walls. It's a lot of fun.
Share Dialog
Share Dialog
Share Dialog
Share Dialog
Share Dialog
Share Dialog