Developed by CentreCourt, in partnership with Centrestone Urban Developments Inc, a 46-storey condominium designed by Arcadis is rapidly advancing in Toronto’s bustling downtown at the southeast corner of Jarvis and Gerrard in Moss Park. PRIME Condos at 319 Jarvis Street had hit the halfway mark in our last update in January, while its efficient urban development has leveraged extended 12-hour construction days and taken advantage of the extended construction times during the pandemic so that PRIME has now topped off.

An aerial view looking southwest of PRIME Condos, designed by Arcadis for CentreCourt and Centrestone Urban Developments Inc

As of May, 2023 (seen below), the tower had progresse to around four-fifths of the way to the top, nearing its mechanical penthouse. From a distance, the eastward view below captured the tower’s emerging stature in the city’s skyline, with Concord Sky at Yonge and Gerrard streets under construction in the left middle-ground. PRIME Condos is set to complement the nearby 33-storey Alter tower at 355 Church Street, with its alternating white cladding and window pattern.

An aerial view looking east to the rising tower and its place in the skyline, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor tstormers

By June, a closer look from Yonge and Gerrard offered insights into PRIME’s cladding and glass, which has enveloped the majority of the structure. The west elevation showcases its series of 3-storey sections of window wall, with each framed section offset by a single floor for visual dynamism; the thick bands of black cladding surround windows marked by gold-toned fins. The same pattern is found on PRIME’s east elevation.

Looking east to the tower from Yonge and Gerrard, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Northern Light

July brought us this close-up view of the building, looking to the south and west elevations. The series of 3-storey window wall sections, (along with a 4-storey section atop the cantilever), provide a more detailed glimpse into the building’s design details. The construction hoist on the west elevation tells of the ongoing work, while the bare concrete of the podium awaits its cladding.

The cladding and window patterns of the south and west elevations, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor stjames2queenwest

By September, an aerial perspective looking southeast showed that the building had reached the mechanical penthouse. The crane continued to stand overhead. The nearly completed 3-storey sections on the north elevation, matched on the south, display the rhythmic facade pattern.

An aerial view looking southwest of the tower having reached the mechanical penthouse, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor yrt+viva=1system

In October, back at ground level, progress on the podium was evident where parts of the west and north elevation were being enveloped in matching black cladding, integrating seamlessly with the tower. Scaffolding and ongoing streetscape work along Jarvis Street showcased the continual development of the project.

A view of work on the podium from Jarvis and Gerrard, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor GenerationLee

Now in November, with the tower having topped off and the crane having been dismantled, PRIME Condos stands proudly, juxtaposed with Jarvis Street Baptist Church to its north, with some finishing touches still to come. The modern tower, with its unique architectural style, also rises behind the older residential buildings along Gerrard. As the hoist remains and work continues, the 46-storey, 148.43m-tall condominium is rapidly progressing towards completion in 2024, delivering 596 new residential units to the bustling Moss Park neighbourhood.

Looking south to the topped off tower, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor stjames2queenwest

via Hold’em For Life

INDUSTRY PROFILES

Hold’em For Life Charity Challenge Raises Nearly $3.5M, Adds To Incredible Total

Uniting the biggest players in Toronto’s real estate world – inviting them to bust out their gambling chops and poker faces for a good cause – Hold’em For Life raised millions of dollars for cancer research.

November 14, 202311:00 am

Sinai Health Foundation was the big winner at Thursday’s 17th annual Hold’em For Life Charity Challenge.

Despite an uncertain real estate market, the event was a record-smashing success, with its guests “all in” on the money raising front.

Uniting the biggest players in Toronto’s real estate world – inviting them to bust out their gambling chops and poker faces for a good cause – the black tie affair replaced the typical ballroom tables at the Royal York Hotel with card tables.

In a high-energy and friendly (but intense) competition, the occasion saw some 700 people engage in a massive Texas Hold’em poker tournament to raise important funds for some of Ontario’s top hospitals and the Hold’em for Life Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program raises funds for clinical trainees who pursue cancer research in Toronto.

Demonstrating the real estate industry’s commitment to the cause – one that’s impacted virtually all of us at some point – the evening raised just under $3.5M towards cancer research right here in Toronto. The funds raised allow for the support of 68 new fellowships at University of Toronto affiliated hospitals. These hospitals include SickKids, Sinai Health System, St. Michael’s, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Women’s College Hospital, and UHN.

You didn’t have to be a poker player to show your support. A separate room housed a bustling bar, and a constantly replenished supply of food all evening to complement the mixing and mingling. This meant a meat carving station, a taco station, and a fully-stocked salad bar, in addition to fresh pastas and passed appetizers.

“We recognize that supporting Hold’em is no small feat – particularly in a year like this – but year after year, people in this room rise to the occasion,” said Co-Chair Gavin Cheung (President and Partner of CentreCourt) in the tournament’s official kick-off speeches.

Co-Chair Gavin Cheung.(Hold’em For Life)

Some of the evening’s biggest sponsors are familiar names on the Toronto real estate scene and include Astro Excavating, Atrium, CMCC, BMO Capital Markets, CBRE, CentreCourt, Dream CA, Embee Properties, Fitzrovia, Haven Developments, and Silvercore.

This year marks the last as co-chair for Bob Blazevski (President & COO of Diamond Corp), who was sent off with a massive public thank you for what Cheung called his “tireless” fundraising efforts over the past three years.

“I’m told there are over 700 people here tonight – so that’s a great showing and represents our industry in a great way,” Blazevski told the crowd. Last year’s event saw some 600 guests. “Tonight’s success is the result of your generous contributions year after year,” he continued. Fitzrovia CEO Adrian Rocca replaces Blazevski as co-chair.

Prior to last week’s event, Hold’em For Life Charity Challenge had raised $47M for cancer research since 2006 – which means the event has now eclipsed the vaunted $50M threshold. According to the organization, 85% of all proceeds raised go directly to fund cancer research and other initiatives.

(Hold’em For Life)

If you missed out, there’s always next year (you can brush up on your poker skills in the meantime). Click HERE to register for 2024.