Spectra is located on one of the last two city blocks within the area formerly known as the rail way lands and now known as Concord Cityplace. RAW has been working in the area for a number of years and previously contributed to the Fort York Neighbourhood Master plan and were responsible for the design of Panorama and LTD mixed use condominiums - and is currently overseeing the construction of LTD.
As a result of the success of the designs for Panorama and Discovery, Concord requested that RAW design their last open sites in Cityplace. The development comprises 1200 units. In contrast to the heavy podium and tower configurations of the previous developments, RAW sought to break down the blocks providing a more permeable pedestrian realm. Open public ways bisect the site linking the adjacent Canoe Landing to Fort York and the new pedestrian Bridge north on Dan Leckie way, south to the lake. This serves to extend a pedestrian network and strong organizing axis which begins at Spadina.