CG Tower Rises As Fifth Tower in Cortel Group's Expo City

Urbantoronto.ca
Dec. 11, 2023
Anthony Teles

Following the extension of University Line 1 to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the area has seen a wave of development that shows no signs of slowing. Originally characterized as a line to nowhere, the commercial and industrial lands surrounding the subway terminal at Jane Street and Highway 7 have quickly seen the construction of a new downtown for Vaughan, especially in regard tall new towers for people to live in. Cortel Group’s Expo City, with two 37-storey and two 38-storey towers just east of the Black Creek and Jane Street, are among the early completions in this area. Now, Expo City's latest phase, named CG Tower, to boast 60 storeys upon completion, is climbing dramatically onto the local skyline.

CG Tower it not only will be the tallest Expo City tower, but its design by BDP Quadrangle brings the warmth of brick to the area, while the building's shifted volumes, with both step-backs and overhangs, are bringing a unique presence to the nascent neighbourhood.

Under construction at 2900 Highway 7, CG Tower has progressed steadily over three years. The image from August, 2021, below, captured the excavation pit fully dug and the crane, recently raised. We see the excavation walls' structural integrity maintained by rows of tiebacks, while an earthen ramp slopes into the pit, allowing easy access for construction equipment and materials.

Jumping ahead to early 2023, this view looking east shows the tower having made made significant vertical progress, with formwork at its 15th storey. The tower crane extends northwestward from the south side, while a red concrete pump is stationed to the north.

The north-facing view below from March 22, 2203, captures the tower at 18 storeys, while showcasing the podium, including its V-shaped columns at its northwest corner. Brick-faced cladding has been applied to several storeys.

A view looking west from August shows cladding reaching much higher up the by-then 30-storey structure. Safety netting and a temporary platform can be seen at the 19th storey where the east elevation overhangs at the first shift of volumes. At the northwest corner, a step-back shows the corresponding bite taken out of the west wide of the floor-plates.

A nighttime view from Highway 7 and Millway Avenue eastwards CG Tower with three storeys formed above the third step-back at the 43rd storey, and the earlier Expo City towers behind it to the east.

Upon completion, CG Tower will stand high above its neighbours at 188.97m, adding to the density and skyline on the east side of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, 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 pag