Ascent [Claridge East Flats, 301 Lett St] | 86+102m | 25+30f | U/C

[LettStreet]

Not sure what these are called, but I live near the new build and glass panels are starting to go up today. They don't look full glass, like the rendering.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9c5zcDQwn4oAj8Sc6

Wasn't sure how to embed the image.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by LettStreet

Not sure what these are called, but I live near the new build and glass panels are starting to go up today. They don't look full glass, like the rendering.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9c5zcDQwn4oAj8Sc6

Wasn't sure how to embed the image.

Ah that's too bad but at least at first glance it doesn't look cheap. Will reserved judgement for when more of them are pieced together

[RogueNacho]

Looks pretty alright to me so far! I think it was unrealistic to expect a full glass curtain wall all the way up, but I'm happy with this. I did a bit more digging into the old files for this project and I think I saw a blurb that the tower cladding might be masonry after all. Disappointing if that's the case, but given that what we've seen so far has been above average for Claridge, maybe the masonry cladding won't end up so bad.

What's crazy to me is how prominent and noticeable this tower is from different vantage points in downtown, little italy, chinatown, and hintonburg. It really stands out! I still find it odd that they are not working on both towers at the same time. Wouldn't it have be easier to do it all in one go?

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by LettStreet

Not sure what these are called, but I live near the new build and glass panels are starting to go up today. They don't look full glass, like the rendering.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9c5zcDQwn4oAj8Sc6

Wasn't sure how to embed the image.

That's a prefabricated window unit. The opaque part is spandrel glass panel, and the transparent part called 'vision glass', and it will form a 'glass curtain wall' like the rendering. The only thing is, Claridge renders show less opaque spandrel panels (or none at all). You have to cover the structure and some mechanical somehow, but Claridge seems to love a high spandrel ratio, as it probably makes it cheaper to build with less vision glass. Some high end buildings have all vision glass, usually with a reflective coating so the structure doesn't have to be obscured.

[LettStreet]

Learn lots here. Yes, makes total sense as if it was all clear, you'd see the floors, etc.

Fascinating to watch.

[SL123]

Yes even the Met which I consider the best curtain glass in the city for residential has a portion that is spandrel glass panel. In the end its all about the ratio between the spandrel and the glass

[ponyboycurtis]

The ratio isn't quite the same as Met but I still think it's more than acceptable.

This building also seems taller than it is.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

What's crazy to me is how prominent and noticeable this tower is from different vantage points in downtown, little italy, chinatown, and hintonburg. It really stands out! I still find it odd that they are not working on both towers at the same time. Wouldn't it have be easier to do it all in one go?

And to think in maybe 10 years, it will be barely visible from a few angles.

Also surprised they didn't build both in one shot. That is how they usually proceed.

[Dzingle Bells]

Behind those spandrel panels, there is also insulation whereas the vision glass obviously has none. Both are not as good as opaque walls from a building performance perspective. I also doubt that either of these projects has triple-pane glazing which would help.

The Met may look nice but it is essentially a giant greenhouse.

[Davis137]

This building is easily seen from the Brookfield and Heron overpasses on Airport Parkway/Bronson now.

[SL123]

The glass portion is looking quite decent from a distance, very promising. I unfortunately didn't get a close up look.

[Glenlivet Ave]

Might this end up being the nicest envelope on a Claridge building since 700 Sussex? I like what I’m seeing so far, and I hope they just keep it simple and don’t try to jazz it up with random patches of colour or charcoal crosses.

[urbanforest]

Agree with what others have said about the glass/cladding. Sheepishly optimistic about this one. As an aside, while driving down Queen St this weekend, facing west, this tower is starting to fill in the end of the canyon and has a surprising amount of presence, even from the Elgin side of Queen.

[MountainView]

View of this building from Somerset St W at the Trillium Line

[J.OT13]

Just weird to see a Claridge building going up and liking it. Hasn't happened since Tribeca.

They'd better not screw up with the tower cladding.

[OTSkyline]

So far so good? Only 1 more floor to go I believe.

Imagine if Claridge turned a corner and started producing decent looking, unique, high quality projects going forward? Would be good - especially with Lebreton around the corner.

[J.OT13]

Strange look though with the podium and corner glass being high quality, but the rest of the tower having a mid-grade, Claridge Moon style finish.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

...Imagine if Claridge turned a corner and started producing decent looking, unique, high quality projects going forward? Would be good - especially with Lebreton around the corner.

Claridge Hintonburg has the potential to be one of their best, even better than this one! It has an interesting design and yet a simple design with none of the risk that came with the Icon's curvy balconies. It all going to come down to the material used for the balconies

[SL123]

Nov 11, 2023 Update

[zzptichka]

How many floors left?