Located only a short block from UrbanToronto's offices, we have been keeping a close eye on the construction site for Alterra’s Post House Condominiums ever since construction started last year. For months now we have been providing regular updates on the 278-unit condominium’s construction progress. Here is a look at what has transpired over the course of the month of November.

When we last checked in on the project at the end of October, the Wallman Architects-designed building was just pushing past its halfway point in height at 12 floors, with concrete being poured at an impressive rate exceeding one floor per week. The rate of 5 floors per month has been maintained, and work is now underway on 18th and even part of the 19th floors, with only a few more to go until the project tops out with the mechanical penthouse above the 21st floor.

Post House Condos viewed from the southwest corner of George and Adelaide, image by Craig White

The building is now tall enough that updating our shots from our old vantage points overlooking the project no longer makes much sense. At this height, the changes at Post House is now more neighbourhood related, as it is now making a visual impact from many local vantage points, including St. James Park at Jarvis and Adelaide…

Construction visible from St. James Park, image by Craig White

…and over these heritage buildings on Jarvis Street at Lombard.

View from Jarvis and Lombard, image by Craig White

While we watch many buildings grow on an individual basis, once they get big enough, their impact becomes neighbourhood-wide. Long before the first residents move in and add to the vitality of this regenerating area of "Old" Toronto just to the east of downtown core, buildings like Post House, even without being one of the 40-storey-plus towers which we are growing accustomed to, adds to a sense of neighbourhood in areas that years ago felt impersonal and office-hours-only.

Aerial view of Post House Condos, image by Jack Landau

While the building's exterior finishes will be the key factor in visually integrating the development with the local urban fabric, the building’s reinforced concrete superstructure has already begun blending in with the high density built form of the surrounding St. Lawrence and King East neighbourhoods. In the aerial view above from November 15th, Post House looks right at home in the increasingly dense cluster of mid and high-rise residential buildings which were earlier pioneers in the densification of the area.

Construction progress at Post House Condos, image by Craig White

Close up, the view on George Street does have one major new piece of information for us: the first bits of glazing can now be seen on the tower’s west elevation. Up on the fourth floor dark black mullions framing what appears to be a very minimally tinted green glass have been installed. In a city with far too much gray, the richer contrast provided by black is a welcome sight.

Cladding installation at Post House Condos, image by Craig White

Of course, we will return near the end of December for a look back on the growth of Post House, both month over month, and over the course of a full year. In the meantime, a comprehensive collection of information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or voice your opinion in the comments section provided at the bottom of this page.