Tag Archives: Canderel Stoneridge

Aura condo construction approaches 50th floor

Aura condos

December 14 2012: Early morning sunshine glints off the east face of the Aura condo tower under construction at the NW corner of Yonge & Gerrard Streets

 

48 of 78: Bright sunny days have been few and far between in Toronto lately. But thanks to the Aura condo tower under construction at College Park, I can immediately tell if the morning sky is clear without looking out a window or even getting out of bed, for that matter. That’s because my apartment gets completely flooded with brilliant sunlight reflected by the glass windows and cladding on Aura, several blocks to the southwest.

Last week, Aura passed the two-thirds point of construction when work started on its 48th floor. The tower will ultimately rise 78 storeys, becoming the tallest residential condominium building in Canada.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Halfway there: Aura climbs to 39 storeys

Aura condos at College Park

September 19 2012: Looking up the north side of the Aura condo tower. Construction reached the milestone halfway mark this week when work commenced on the 39th floor of the 78-storey skyscraper. (Click on the photo to view a larger-size image.)

 

Aura condos at College Park

September 22 2012: My balcony view of the Aura condo tower this afternoon. Construction forms for supporting walls are in place on the north side of the 39th floor.

 

 Aura condos at College Park

September 22 2012: Cladding and window installation has started on the 30th floor

 

 Midpoint milestone: The Aura condo tower at College Park has reached the halfway point — 39 floors — where building activity including concrete floor pours and construction of supporting walls has been underway the past two days.

When it tops off at 78 storeys, Aura will become Canada’s tallest residential building.

I can’t help but watch Aura’s construction progress — the window next to my computer looks straight at it. Even though I’m more than five blocks away to the northeast, I can feel the strong presence of the big rectangular slab of concrete and glass looming over my left shoulder. I’m not impressed by the building’s appearance so far, but I am looking forward to the point at which Aura reaches the 59th floor and construction commences on 16 levels of “executive suites” and five floors of penthouse and sub-penthouse residences. The oval shape for that top section of the tower will give Aura a unique silhouette on the city skyline, and be considerably more interesting and appealing to look at.

 

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Aura condo construction climbs to 33 floors

Aura condos at College Park

August 13 2012: Aura at College Park condo tower construction viewed from my window to the northeast. The building behind it, with the green-hued windows, is the new SickKids Centre for Research and Learning at Bay & Gerrard Streets.

 

Aura condos at College Park

August 11 2012: Aura viewed from the east on Gerrard Street, next to Ryerson University

 

Aura condos at College Park

August 11 2012: Aura seen from the southwest on Gerrard Street beside the Delta Chelsea

 

Aura condos at College Park

August 11 2012: Aura viewed from the west, in the green space at College Park

 

Aura condos at College Park

August 11 2012: Aura viewed from the north, outside the entrance to the College Park shopping mall

 

Looming large: The Aura condo tower under construction at College Park already has a formidable and massive presence in central downtown Toronto — and the building has reached only 33 floors so far. I’m still trying to imagine the impact the tower is going to have on both its immediate area, and on the city skyline, when construction tops off at 78 stories. And from a purely personal perspective, I’m curious and anxious to see how the tower will affect the daylight and sunshine that pours through the windows of my condo six blocks away to the northeast.

Aura started climbing into the view from the window next to my computer desk in late May, when construction had reached about 15 floors.  By July, it had blocked nearly all my view of the new 21-storey SickKids Centre for Research and Learning tower, which is approaching the end of construction two blocks to Aura’s southwest. As Aura continues its ascent, it will fill in much of the sky that I see between the two Radio City condominium towers on Mutual Street near my home.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

In Photos: Aura at College Park

Aura Condos at College Park Toronto

May 2 2012: A screenshot from the construction webcam for the Aura condo tower at College Park. The developer will need to adjust its camera angle soon; otherwise, construction of what will be the city’s tallest condo tower will quickly climb out of view.

 

Aura Condos at College Park Toronto

April 29 2012: Aura Condos at College Park construction viewed from the southeast corner of Yonge and Gerrard Streets.

 

On the rise: “What’s taking Aura so long?” That’s a question I’ve been asked a number of times recently by people who have been waiting, obviously rather impatiently, for the Aura condo tower at College Park to begin making its mark on the downtown skyline. They won’t have to wait much longer.

Aura already has a profound presence when viewed from ground level along parts of Yonge and Gerrard Streets, and in a few short weeks will become more visible over a wider area as it starts rising above some of its highrise neighbours. By June, I will probably be able to watch the construction from the comfort of my condo six blocks away to the northeast; right now, the orange and white cranes atop Aura are competing for my attention with the two cranes on the SickKids Centre for Research and Learning Tower two blocks to their southwest.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Shock and awe as Aura ascends

Aura condos at College Park

March 6 2012: A giant canopy being built above the Yonge Street sidewalk will protect pedestrians as construction of the 78-storey Aura condo tower proceeds

 

More photos and information on the next page.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Public meeting will discuss 60-storey condo tower plan for site beside historic hall at Yonge & College

Historic Oddfellows Hall at Yonge & College Streets Toronto

February 26 2012: A 60-storey condominium tower that would loom above the historic Oddfellows Hall building (left) at Yonge & College Streets …

 

460 Yonge Street Toronto

… has been proposed for this location, currently occupied by a 2-storey building with shops and restaurants at street level and offices on the second floor

 

460 Yonge Street Toronto condo tower proposal sign

One of the development proposal signs posted outside 460 Yonge Street

 

Open for discussion: The City is holding a community consultation Wednesday night to get public input on a developer’s plan to build a 60-storey condo tower at Yonge & College Streets, right next door to a 4-storey heritage building constructed in 1891.

Designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects Inc. of Mississauga for developer Canderel Stoneridge of Toronto, the building would feature a 207-meter-tall tower containing 599 residential units at the municipal address of 460 Yonge Street. A podium ranging from 3 to 7 stories would contain the condo’s recreational amenities along with retail space on the street level and second floor, offices on the third floor, and an outdoor terrace with barbecue area on the podium roof. Six levels of underground parking would offer 196 vehicle spaces and 608 bicycle parking spots.

 

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Winter photo walks: Bay/College area Part 2

Aura condos at College Park Toronto

February 6 2012: The Aura condo tower has so far climbed six floors above its mammoth podium, seen here from the northwest corner of the 3-acre park sheltered by the office & residential towers at the College Park complex

 

Aura Condos at College Park Toronto

February 9 2012: The Aura podium on the southeast corner of Yonge & Gerrard Streets will contain 190,000 square feet of retail shops, restaurants and services

 

MaRS Phase 2 building construction progress

February 6 2012: Construction of the MaRS Centre Phase 2 building at College Street and University Avenue reached the sixth floor this month

 

Aura ascends, MaRS rises: Construction has climbed past the sixth-floor point at two different projects that will establish landmark new buildings and radically change the appearance of two busy intersections in the downtown core.

 

Aura condos at College Park

The 3-level podium for the Aura condo tower has been turning heads at the intersection of Yonge & Gerrard Streets since construction of the mammoth structure reached street level nearly a year ago. With 6 of Aura’s 75 condo floors now constructed, the building has begun to prominently assert its presence for several blocks in each direction, giving city residents and visitors an early hint of the dramatic impact the country’s tallest residential tower will have on the Toronto skyline.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Aura condo tower foundation reaching street level

Aura College Park condo tower

The Aura webcam captured this view of the construction site this morning


Aura College Park condo tower

This February 15 photo shows construction workers atop foundation forms level with Yonge Street near the north end of the condo tower construction site…


Aura College Park condo tower

…while this February 20 photo shows street-level forms in the middle of the site


Street view: Foundation construction activity for the 75-storey Aura at College Park condo tower has reached street level at the north end of the project site, while underground floors continue to take shape at a slower pace on the southern two-thirds of the property. When I passed Aura on February 15, construction crews were working atop street-level foundation forms between the north (orange) construction crane and the hoarding that protects the pedestrian entrance to the College Park mall. On February 20, forms extended farther south, creeping toward the white construction crane near the Gerrard Street side of the Aura property. Meanwhile, the southwest construction zone — on the west side of the truck ramp leading from Gerrard Street into the underground College Park loading docks — has considerable catching up to do. This area, where a third construction crane operates, is basically still a deep pit with just one underground level poured, far behind the progress achieved elsewhere on the Aura building site. Below are some of my recent photos of construction progress on the tower foundation.

 

Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15: Street-level foundation work at the north end of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15: Street-level foundation forms extend to the first crane


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15: Northeast corner of site viewed from Yonge Street


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15: Another north view of the site from Yonge St.


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15: Foundation work is still below grade south of the orange crane


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15: Foundation forms begin filling in the south half of the tower site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 15 : Workers on top of foundation forms at the north end of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 18: Yonge-Gerrard view of the three cranes at the Aura site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Gerrard Street view of the east side of the construction site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Basement level construction beneath the truck ramp that leads from Gerrard Street into the underground loading docks for the College Park complex


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Underground levels on the east side of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Gerrard Street view toward the elevator block construction


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: The elevator block takes shape below the orange crane


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Gerrard Street view of the south half of the construction site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Construction progress along the Gerrard Street flank of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Gerrard Street view of the southwest corner of the project site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Gerrard Street view of the southwest corner of the project site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Foundation work at the southwest corner of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Foundation work at the southwest corner of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Foundation work at the southwest corner of the site


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: North view of the site from corner of Gerrard and Yonge


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Street-level foundation work viewed from Yonge Street


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Street-level foundation work viewed from Yonge Street


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Street-level foundation work viewed from Yonge Street


Aura at College Park condo tower

February 20: Northwest section of the site, looking toward Yonge Street