Waterloo Region Connected
TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - Printable Version

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RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - Andy Mc - 03-14-2025

Looks like some sort of spire has been added? From the south today.

   

   

   

   

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - CuilTard - 03-14-2025

(03-14-2025, 06:01 PM)Andy Mc Wrote: Looks like some sort of spire has been added? From the south today.

The concrete pumping boom folded up for the weekend maybe? 
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RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - CuilTard - 03-19-2025

Still working after 6 PM
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RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - Momo26 - 03-22-2025

When is the scheduled first occupancy on this one again?


I think we may see the biggest number of units coming to market at once very soon (q1 2026?)

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - CuilTard - 03-23-2025

(03-14-2025, 07:32 AM)CuilTard Wrote:
(03-13-2025, 11:58 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: It just occurred to me, it’s interesting that the parking is completely enclosed. That implies a massive ventilation system, rather than just having it sufficiently open. I wonder if it will be heated?

Enclosed on the Halls side at least. Will try to post the gaps on the other 3 sides today. We did see radiant floor heating pipes installed at one point #513

 I was also wondering if all the trash pickup, etc. Is still in the podium like they promised the neighbourhood meeting way back. It seems like there are just up/down ramps inside the big doors on Halls/Charles?

Other 3 sides do indeed appear to be enclosed. There is a vent/grate above the big door on Halls, though.
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RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - panamaniac - 03-23-2025

I'm not quite getting the alternating white/black spandrel on one podium facade vs all white spandrel on another.

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - CuilTard - 03-23-2025

(03-23-2025, 01:29 PM)panamaniac Wrote: I'm not quite getting the alternating white/black spandrel on one podium facade vs all white spandrel on another.

I think only the Halls lane side has the outer spandrel placed so far. The other sides are just the metal backing that holds some roxul insulation and the outer part. The façades might get more consistent in a bit?

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - ac3r - 03-23-2025

If you'd like a refresher, you can scroll to the bottom of the document below and get an idea of the different spandrel they'll use and where. There have been slight alterations in places, though, but it appears to be a fair match to some of the drawings. Though, some of the renders embellished things. Those night time ones almost made it look like they'd have a lot of actual wood! But no, more white precast, hah.

I'll be interested to find out whether they include the wood panel spandrel they originally suggested. Originally, the tower was going for this "let's pay homage to the Indegenous lands we occupied" theme as illustrated by the intentional birch tree like influences on the podium design, birch tree windscreens that'll be on street level due to the wind tunnel models suggesting this will be windy, the wood panel spandrel on the diagonal pillars and a few more features down to including wood features on the interiors. The main facade material we see - the white precast that have the angled lines - was originally going to be metal spandrel. At some point, they switched to using textured precast, quite similar to what IN8/SRM switched to during Duke Tower which you can see upclose pictures of here: https://x.com/adamclark_cok/status/1296606787009904641. I think the choice to move to this white precast on TEK was the better option than metal spandrel. While that weird precast concrete panel they used on Duke Tower looks awful as they get harder to discern the higher up you look, they at least used a more interesting design on TEK.

Overall, another budget design with more bait and switch, but at least this hopefully doesn't look that bad when it's finished.

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - CuilTard - 03-27-2025

Backing for the gap panels and some roxul up on the Victoria side. The parking "window" was open for a bit too, but now it gets a grate:
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RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - Momo26 - 03-28-2025

Coming along. What is anticipated closing for this again?

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - CuilTard - 03-28-2025

(03-28-2025, 07:29 PM)Momo26 Wrote: Coming along. What is anticipated closing for this again?

Sept 2026 according to this source:

"TEK Tower is a new condo community by Westdale Properties, IN8 Developments and Harlo Capital currently under construction at 30 Francis Street South, Kitchener. The community is scheduled for completion in Sept 2026. "
 https://www.livabl.com/kitchener-on/tek-tower#:~:text=TEK%20Tower%20is%20a%20new%20condo%20community%20by%20Westdale%20Properties%2C%20IN8%20Developments%20and%20Harlo%20Capital%20currently%20under%20construction%20at%2030%20Francis%20Street%20South%2C%20Kitchener.%20The%20community%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%20Sept%202026.

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - Square - 03-29-2025

Probably the last* IN8 Development for awhile. (*Downtown Kitchener Condos)

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - westwardloo - 03-29-2025

(03-29-2025, 01:14 AM)Square Wrote: Probably the last* IN8 Development for awhile. (*Downtown Kitchener Condos)

What makes you say that? Because sales have been so slow for condos lately? I believe they have both 88 queen and 24 charles in the books for the future. Both towers are 40+ storeys, I could see them trying to gauge the market on one of the towers. 

Developers have kind of painted themselves into a corner with condos' in Ontario/ Canada. The prices raised so quickly in the 2010's that investor expected that party to continue, but there is not much room for growth when Developers charge 500-600+k for a small one bedroom. Its also next to impossible for small investors justify the purchase, as they can't rent it out at break even with the current cost of carrying a mortgage. Then you have people that might actually want to buy to live in, they are see how difficult it is to sell existing stock, so why take a risk on a new build.  I think we are headed to a lost decade of condo construction. I can see purpose built rental construction to continue at its current pace though.

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - ZEBuilder - 03-29-2025

(03-29-2025, 01:14 AM)Square Wrote: Probably the last* IN8 Development for awhile. (*Downtown Kitchener Condos)

IN8 has slowed down but they definitely haven't stopped. They broke ground on a condo in Hamilton late last year, early this year and still have a couple floors worth of units to sell, so it isn’t crazy to think they could do the same on any of their othef projects. You also have to remember that IN8 has applied for permits at 88 Queen, it doesn't mean its imminent but it certainly indicates that it's their next project.


Kitchener is also still selling condos, yes its much slower than before but it is happen. Momentum has a couple sold out floor plans in Q Condos the last time I checked, VanMar launched Station Park D (Platform) so they obviously think they can sell. Sure neither of them are going to start in 2025 but 2026 is definitely a possibility.

RE: TEK Tower (30 Francis) | 45 fl | U/C - creative - 03-29-2025

A really good podcast that talks about the state of condo construction in Toronto amongst other things. Well worth the listen.

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/angry-mortgage/id1669296211?i=1000695847438

And why does it take so long to get anything in Ontario approved: I have the right person to give those answers.
Our Special Guest Ian Jones has nearly 60 years of experience building Condo, Commercial Mixed Use & you name it in North America 
He had lived through the highs & lows of those 60 years of Building & Development in Ontario & no one can tell the story of the coming Condo Crash, the relentless challenges of Government induced expense & complexity better than Ian