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Compare the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor from 2007 to today and you will find the intersection virtually unrecognizable. Gone is the aging three-storey structure that housed City Optical and a Harvey''s burger joint, and in its place stands the construction site for one of Toronto's largest new high-rise developments. Great Gulf Homes' One Bloor East continues to rise from the corner of Yonge and Bloor, with construction now underway on the building's tower floors. The 75-storey Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed building has been drawing much attention from our Forum members lately, as different elements of the building's complicated façade continue to materialize.
The tower's podium has grown to an impressive size over the past several months, and we are now beginning to get a taste of the high-quality exterior finishes being installed on the lower floors. The most notable addition to the podium is the curved piece of glass now visible on the northwest corner of the podium. This initial pane of curved glazing speaks volumes about the final product, and since photos surfaced in the Forum last week, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. In the time since, even more of the reflective curtainwall cladding has been installed at the north end of the podium.
Along with the condominium's residential entrance, the podium levels will be home to over 100,000 square feet of retail space. The addition of commercial space will extend Bloor Street's shopping strip east of Yonge Street, while priming Bloor Street East for some yet-to-be-announced, high-profile retail tenants.
One Bloor East's sixth and seventh floors will be home to the buildings amenities area, accessible for residents of the development's 789 condominium units. The sixth floor will feature a large spa area with three treatment rooms, plus separate his and hers cold plunges, hot plunges, jet massages, experience showers, and steam therapy rooms. Also located on the sixth floor are outdoor terraces, two sculpture gardens, and a large party space. One floor above is the year-round indoor/outdoor pool, as well as a fully equipped gym and cardio room.
With progress on the tower portion now underway, it won't be too much longer before the building rises above the neighbouring towers at Yonge and Bloor, such as Hudson's Bay Centre and 2 Bloor West. Upon completion in 2015, One Bloor East will be the fifth tallest building in Toronto as measured by roof height, standing at 884 feet.
Head to the One Bloor East dataBase listing for additional information and renderings. To keep up on one of UrbanToronto's most-followed developments, check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.
