For a city that boasted of having the world's tallest freestanding structure for over 30 years, Toronto has had an on-again, off-again love affairs with height. With Aura at College Park, a new condominium tower by developer Canderel, it seems that things may be on-again. Designed by Graziani and Corazza Architects, construction on this still growing future landmark has now hit the 73rd storey. That gives Aura one more storey than First Canadian Place in the city’s core. With five storeys still to come, Aura has already achieved the milestone of having more floors than any other building in Canada.

A view of Aura at College Park, image by lxmoss

At its height limit of 78 storeys and towering 895 feet above Yonge and Gerrard streets, Aura will take its place as Canada’s tallest residential building. As measured by roof height, this will make it the third tallest building in the city. Viewed from street level, the scale of the project is emphasized in contrast to its comparatively humble neighbours. The only towers to rival Aura's stature are far to the south in the city's core.

Aura viewed from the 56th floor of First Canadian Place, image by bluedjay

With 985 condominium units, the influx of residents as well as shoppers to the new retail space at the Shops At Aura is likely to have as significant an impact on the Yonge and Gerrard neighbourhood as it has on the city’s skyline. In an effort to accommodate the increase in pedestrian traffic, the sidewalk surrounding the development has been widened and refinished. Other changes coming to the surroundings include the renovation of the Eaton Chelsea Hotel across the street, as well as the refurbishing of College Park itself, which is adjacent to the Aura site.

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