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.

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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.)

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.

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.

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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.

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

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

August 11 2012: Aura viewed from the west, in the green space 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.

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