Every time the scaffolding rig that surrounds Brookfield Properties' First Canadian Place drops another floor, or two, shutters are triggered all over town. And why not? It's fun watching this gleaming phoenix rising out of its grubby older skin. Enough of the top has been revealed now that we are getting a very good feel for the building's final look, and we are getting a chance to compare rendering and reality. Remember this view?

A crop of UrbanToronto member YYZer's recently posted photo shows that the rendering above is not so far off.

Meanwhile, member dt_toronto_geek got this telephoto shot from a couple of kilometres north.

Here's the overall rendering that everyone is familiar with.

To fill out the detail, we have several more views to go with it, inside and out, some new, with an eye for the details.

So, above, closer up of course, with more detail in the corners than the overall rendering. The detail in real life has been hard enough to capture of course: these copper-coloured panels appear black, or the next thing to it, in most shots posted on Urban Toronto. Below, up-close and personal with the triangular frit pattern in the new glass cladding.

Now, a look at the podium, and the answer to many questions here concerning just how much marble will remain on the exterior.

Here it is, a bit closer up, with details easier to pick out.

Inside we get three views of the area around the elevator lobbies, on two levels.

Finally, a view of the Marketplace retail area on the lower PATH concourse, which is pretty much complete now, and really does look like the rendering.

All renderings courtesy of Bregman + Hamann Architects

The rejuvenation of the centre is designed by Moed de Armas & Shannon Architects, with fritting designed by Doyle Partners, both of New York, while Toronto-based Bregmann + Hamann Architects is architect of record. Work is expected to be complete in 2012.