An inside look at The Well, Toronto’s largest construction site

In progress since 2017, the innovative mixed-use development sits on 7.67 acres downtown.

The Well’s retail space is seen under construction — Situated at Front St. and Spadina Ave., The Well is nearing completion. (Stephen Velasco/Urbanize Toronto)

The following is a guest post from Urbanize Toronto, a new website from FutureModelTO’s Stephen Velasco. Check out the original version and more Urbanize content here.

After years of anticipation, Toronto’s largest construction site is about to open its doors to the public in stunning fashion.

Located on the northwest corner of Front St. and Spadina Ave. in downtown Toronto, The Well is a massive mixed-use project from RioCan and Allied Properties. Formerly the location of the Globe and Mail headquarters, the 7.67-acre site was acquired in 2011 with construction ongoing since 2017.

Once completed, the site is expected to welcome about 22,000 daily visitors, including the approximately 11,000 residents and employees that will live and work there.

Urbanize Toronto recently joined a tour of the still-under-construction site led by representatives from RioCan, BDP, CCxA, and Enwave. Here’s what we learned.

Exterior of an office tower at 8 Spadina — The office tower at 8 Spadina Ave. is the tallest building in the complex. (Stephen Velasco/Urbanize Toronto)

Office space

Our tour began in The Well’s most prominent building, the office tower at 8 Spadina Ave. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the 36-storey/174-m skyscraper is also the tallest in the complex. The tower’s massing steps back from Spadina as it rises, in order to minimize shadowing on nearby Clarence Square.

After a speedy, light-filled elevator ride (with a view) to the 15th floor, we arrive on one of the last unleased levels remaining in the building. Designed for “urban tech companies and professional services,” the building features five unique floor plates that can be independently configured according to tenant requirements.

An inside look 8 Spadina Ave., including the lobby and an unleased office floor. (Stephen Velasco/Urbanize Toronto)

Office tenants began moving into The Well in late 2022, including architects BDP Quadrangle — BDP being the architects behind the retail component of the complex.

Additional tenants include Intuit, the Toronto Star, and Shopify — which had initially signed a long-term lease agreement, but has chosen not to take possession of the space and are in the process of subletting.

There will be 1.2 million sq. ft. of office space at The Well. According to RioCan CIO Andrew Duncan, it’s 97 per cent leased.

A rendering of The Well. (Courtesy of RioCan/Allied)

Residential and rental buildings

The most significant component of The Well is the six residential buildings, with Tridel acting as developer for the condominium units, and Woodbourne Canada Management and RioCan Living overseeing the purpose-built rentals.

When work is complete, the complex will include 1,700 residential units in total.

Wellington St residential building. — This Wellington St. residential building is one of six in the complex. (Stephen Velasco/Urbanize Toronto)

The Well’s first residents have already begun moving into the new buildings, as they are gradually occupied in phases.

With convenient access to The Well’s impressive public spaces and amenity offerings, residents can experience high-level urban living within their own community.

The Well’s glass canopy provides occupants and visitors with sky views and natural light. (Stephen Velasco/Urbanize Toronto)

Retail and food service

Perhaps the most impressive space at The Well is its retail component. Spread across three levels, the vast corridor is covered by an architecturally expressive glass canopy that runs between the buildings.

Manufactured in Germany, the 35,000–sq. ft. structure is fully self-supported, providing occupants and visitors with natural light, and a comfortable environment that can be enjoyed year-round.

Adrian Price, a Principal from BDP, emphasized that from the planning stages of The Well, it was clear the project’s developers did not want a traditional mall, like Toronto’s Eaton Centre. Instead, heavy emphasis was placed on a pedestrian-first experience, taking cues from King West’s intimate laneways. There are multiple passageways into the complex, as well as a streetscape-quality to the spaces, described as “retail theatre.”

Design inspiration was also taken from the surrounding neighbourhood, which is visible in the material choices that include the use of brick, granite, and terracotta. Reclaimed timber from existing buildings demolished on the site has also been repurposed for ceiling and roof coverings on the retail levels.

Unfinished Food Hall at The Well — The unfinished Wellington Market food hall. (Stephen Velasco/Urbanize Toronto)

We also toured the space that will eventually become a food hall known as Wellington Market. The space is located on the first level below grade, and is expected to feature unique restaurant offerings and “less brands with a national presence.”

One of the goals was to create an inviting and experiential space that is lively during all times of the day.

While some of the retailers have already opened at The Well, the entire space is expected to be completed and opened to the public some time before the end of 2023.

Public realm

CCxA senior landscape architect Guillaume Paradis also joined the tour to describe the unique frontage along the northern edge of The Well.

Generous 18-m sidewalks form a landscaped promenade that runs 400 m in length along Wellington St. to Draper Park. Restaurants will occupy the retail units on the first and second levels across all buildings along Wellington.

CCxA is also responsible for a number of open spaces located throughout the site, with unique art and community programming. Purposefully designed stairs also double as alternative seating areas throughout The Well.

A partial map of the Enwave network. (Courtesy of RioCan/Allied/Enwave)

Thermal energy system

A unique, yet crucial, feature of The Well is actually hidden within the project’s name. The development team behind the project partnered with energy company Enwave to extend Toronto’s Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) and hot water distribution networks by building an energy storage facility on site.

A two-million gallon tank, approximately 50 ft. wide and 300 ft. deep, stores temperature controlled water, helping to provide a low-carbon, resilient cooling and heating option for the area.

While not visible to the general public, the hidden facility is perhaps The Well’s most cutting-edge feature, and another contribution that the development provides to the neighbourhood as a whole.

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