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The intersection of Yonge and Eglinton has long been midtown Toronto's most important intersection. With the recent and continuing growth of residential towers in the area and the coming Crosstown LRT, it's only going to get busier here as the years pass. To keep up with an expected increased demand for retail space, RioCan is working on upgrading its Yonge Eglinton Centre with a multi-million dollar facelift to help the aging complex meet the changing needs here.
Construction is underway on a Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects-led revitalization plan, which will enclose a portion of the pedestrian square on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue with a four-storey addition, adding 40,000 square-feet of retail space to the 750,000 square-foot complex (most of which is office space).
At the west end of the addition the steel frame is nearing its final height with work underway on the fourth and final storey, and in the coming months we should begin to see the addition extend towards the corner and for its exterior to take shape.
Along with the addition, the base of the taller office tower is also getting a makeover. On its east side, new glass and spandrel cladding is now being applied over the bare concrete skin. The Pickle Barrel restaurant, long a tenant here, has been renovated and its new exterior is taking shape.
Work has also progressed significantly inside the mall's existing retail space, which will feature multimedia displays, a water feature, new staircases and streamlined glass balconies upon completion of the revitalization.
The mall is looking more inviting by the day, its interior recently improved with the addition of LED-backlit panels covering the complex's interior support columns, along with new overhead lighting.
For additional information as well as renderings for the project, visit the Yonge Eglinton Centre dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or voice your opinion in the comments section provided at the bottom of this page.
