591 Sherbourne is a 51-storey rental tower proposed on the southeast corner of Sherbourne and Howard Streets south of Bloor in Downtown Toronto. Designed by IBI Group, developed by Medallion Corporation.
All listed information is pending final approval from the city. To access the full construction management and community communication strategy draft document, click here.
The site is generally located between Sherbourne Street and Bleecker Street, south of Howard Street and north of Wellesley Street in the City of Toronto. There are existing commercial and residential buildings and a park on the site, which is approximately 2.04ha.
The proposed development includes new amenity areas, ground floor retail space and a residential tower. The existing park to the north of the Shoppers Drug Mart is included as part of the proposed construction for the project.
In consultation with local residences association and the Councilor’s office, the following communication strategy is proposed:
A traffic management plan has been prepared for the site, to minimize the impact of the proposed construction on the adjacent streets and traffic flow as required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations for Construction Projects and the Ontario Traffic Manual: Book 7 Temporary Conditions. A copy of both the OHSA and the Ontario Traffic Manual: Book 7 Temporary Conditions will be available for review at the site project office.
LEA has prepared a plan to show the gate locations for construction traffic into and out of the project site, as well as other relevant considerations to provide protection for workers who may be endangered by vehicular traffic; it can be referenced in Appendix B of the Construction Management and Community Communication Strategy.
We note that call-duty officers may be required to control traffic to provide for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists using Howard Street and Sherbourne Street throughout the construction process. Examples of when this will be required are as follows: building and dismantling cranes; deliveries of large equipment which may impede traffic flow; and work over Howard Street or Sherbourne Street is required.
Qualified flag personnel will be employed throughout the construction on site to assist with the flow of construction vehicles entering or leaving the site. No vehicles will be permitted to back onto Howard Street without flagman assistance. Flag personnel shall ensure that the thru-lane on Howard Street is not blocked by construction vehicles. Funeral processions shall be given top priority by flag personnel.
It is estimated that approximately 1-5 delivery vehicles will enter and exit the site each day from the start to the end of construction. However, some days will have more and some will have less, depending on the work scheduled for the day. The timing for deliveries will be at all times between 7:00am and 7:00pm on weekdays, and 9:00am to 7:00pm on Saturdays. No deliveries are anticipated on Sundays.
Working hours are proposed to be limited to between 7:00am and 7:00pm on weekdays, and 9:00am to 7:00pm on Saturdays. There will be no work on Sundays or statutory holidays. There may be instances where work extents beyond 7:00pm, related to instances of concrete pouring. (See “Will there be noise or vibration?” for more information.)
Working hours are proposed to be limited to between 7:00am and 7:00pm on weekdays, and 9:00am to 7:00pm on Saturdays. However, there may be unanticipated issues and events throughout the construction process that will impact this timing, specifically concrete pours.
The logistics of concrete pours are such that the construction crews must finish the work on the freshly poured slab after the truck has left the site. This is consistent with standard construction practice, and involves the concrete finishers waiting until the concrete hardens enough (1-3 hours in most cases, depending on ambient temperatures) to allow the finishing machines on top of the slab to provide a smooth, level concrete surface. If this is not done, the concrete will harden and potentially create a deficient structural component, jeopardizing the integrity of the tower construction.
Prior to any concrete pour, the required forming and rebar work must be completed. In most cases, this takes several hours. It should also be noted that the timing of concrete pours are dependent on the concrete supplier’s availability to deliver concrete to the site. In a large pour (for example, for a floor slab) the work may stretch into the evening even if it begins early in the day.
Every effort will be made to complete the work within the prescribed times set out in the City of Toronto’s construction noise by-law. No concrete pouring will be done on Sundays or statutory holidays.
Please note that the City of Toronto’s construction noise by-law permits continuous concrete pours to continue past 7:00pm when construction logistics require it.
Regarding vibration, a Zone of Influence Report has been completed by Tarra, to outline recommendations and requirements for the proposed construction. All requirements outlined in the report will be carried out. Vibration monitoring equipment will be in place and actively monitored, as recommended. Medallion/591 Sherbourne will comply with all the recommendations in the Vibration Assessment Report.
Dust will be controlled on the site using a variety of techniques based on varying site and weather conditions. These will include (but not be limited to): placement of mud mats at all truck access points; spraying of calcite along the access routes to maintain moisture and minimize dust on construction access roads; washing of trucks and wheels when leaving the site during shoring and excavation; and regular street and sidewalk and bike lane sweeping and watering to clean paved surfaces.
The effectiveness of the dust control is dependent on the frequency of use/application which will increase during periods of dry weather.
Adjacent roadways and sidewalks will be pressure-washed weekly, or more frequently as needed to be safe and clear of construction debris. Site sidewalk and pedestrian paths along Howard Street and Sherbourne Street will be swept daily when required to keep the sidewalks reasonably clean. As required, the sidewalk fronting the site on Howard Street and Sherbourne Street will also be cleared of snow within 24 hours of any accumulation.
Sidewalk hoarding to provide for pedestrian safety is outlined on the CMP. It is proposed that the sidewalk on the south side of Howard Street adjacent to the site will be closed and fenced off in order to provide the required space for construction. A covered pedestrian walkway with hoarding is proposed for Sherbourne Street.
Appropriate signage and mirrors will be installed as needed to ensure that the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists is considered at all times. The adjacent sidewalks and walkways must have appropriate lighting to ensure adequate visibility at all times of the day and night.
In areas where no cycling lanes exist, markings on the roadway must be installed in consultation with Transportation Services. Appropriate signage on the hoarding board is required to inform motorists and cyclists to safely share the road.
First Occupancy is currently scheduled for 23 September 2023, with project completion scheduled for 21 September 2024.