Very true comments. We need to keep in mind that developing new, more sustainable techniques for construction, cars or the like should not be about providing perfect solutions, but one that makes the current situation better than previous. Hopefully, working towards better more sustainable...

Yes, only the exit stairs. The elevator cores are timber. The steel that is visible is a vertical truss that transfers the cantilever loads to the foundations.

No, it's fully mass timber. The exit stair cores are steel as a requirement by Toronto Fire, due to the timeline that the building permit was submitted. If it were now, that requirement would not have been required. Any steel used is due to the challenges have having a cantilever with mass...

Harvesting of wood for mass timber is not done from virgin or old growth forests. It is sourced from the same tree farms that produce soft wood lumber for the building industry...ie. stud framing for the housing. Also, the harvesting of farmed trees is far less environmentally damaging than...

The start of the cantilevered south portion of the building that will run 11 floors, first time in mass timber construction.

The benefits are numerous.... Environmental - mass timber captures and stores a massive amounts of embodied carbon during growing cycles, and holds it through production and is therefore not an emitter. It is considerably less polluting than production of steel or concrete. Looking at global...

Central moat at TTC entrance, looking west towards the central moat still covered by hoarding. Upper bridge at left of image feels much larger than it appears in the photos. Central moat at TTC entrance, looking east towards new staircase and entry door, as well as east moat. Further east...

New east entrance from West moat at York street. Past the Union Chicken is the York Concourse as well as new access (at right of image) to the food court below. Directly straight on where the stone walls are darker, is the original portion of Union below the Great Hall...I believe it's now...

West moat looking south from Front St. West moat looking north towards Front St. West moat looking east towards new building entrance directly into York Concourse. West moat looking towards new University Ave entrance. In the future this will connect to the central moat and TTC Union...

Central portion of moat is currently closed off.

It is a display case. The back has not been installed so we're seeing through it. In front of this are storage rooms.