Toronto shares rare glimpse inside new $128M landmark ahead of spring opening

Toronto residents have waited more than 25 years for the new St. Lawrence Market North building, and the public is getting a rare glimpse inside the shining new landmark at 92 Front Street East as construction races for the finish line ahead of a planned spring 2025 opening.

Work is now drawing to a close for the impressive architectural statement on the northwest corner of Front and Jarvis, soon to end a drawn-out saga of planning, delays, construction and even more delays that saw the project's budget inflate to an eye-popping $128 million.

The five-storey structure — designed by U.K.-based architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners working alongside local firm Adamson Associates Architects — reached structural completion well over two years ago, and continues to captivate passersby with its striking orange finishes.

In November, a City of Toronto representative informed blogTO that "in the coming weeks, the new North Market building will be progressing through phased tenant occupancy for City services" and confirmed that "building tenants will move into the North Market through the fall and winter."

"North Market programming and events are expected to begin in the spring of 2025, and further details on a grand opening and farmers market-related program will be available in the coming months."

This statement first provided to blogTO has since been shared with the general public alongside some breathtaking imagery that offers a first look inside the mostly-completed structure.

The new five-storey replacement building for the old North Market will provide a permanent space for the Farmer's Market (housed in a temporary tent since 2016) on its ground floor, while the upper floors will house new Toronto Court Services courtrooms and administrative offices.

Its main atrium and vibrant colourful finishes perfectly frame views of the main St. Lawrence Market building's primary facade over Front Street.

The City has also shared a glimpse at the new Court Services component of the building.

Administrative office space, while nothing terribly exciting, is another important function of the mixed-use building.

The first area of the building expected to open to the public is an underground paid parking garage that will be operated by the Toronto Parking Authority.

Plans now coming to fruition are the product of almost 27 years of planning and construction. 

The City of Toronto first pitched a replacement of the 1967-built north market building on the northwest corner of Front and Jarvis all the way back in 1998, though it wouldn't be until 2016 that the structure was finally demolished and replaced with a temporary market a couple blocks to the south.