Several months after the August 20th opening of anchor tenant Winner's on the second level of RioCan's Yonge Eglinton Centre expansion, a new element of the development is now nearing completion. We recently took a sneak peek at the new rooftop patio space that sits atop the three-storey, Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects-designed 40,000 square foot addition known as the "cube". Though still closed to the public, we expect this outdoor space will become a popular gathering point for those working in or visiting the complex once the weather warms up this Spring.

New patio space atop the Yonge Eglinton Centre expansion, image by Jack Landau

The outdoor space is accessed either via the new atrium's elevator or by stairs, with entrances from both the office and retail components of the complex. Four levels up, a glassed-in elevator lobby allows views of the densifying surroundings.

Rooftop elevator lobby in the Yonge Eglinton Centre expansion, image by Jack Landau

Stepping out onto the patio, visitors will be likely be struck by the liveliness of the Yonge-Eglinton area. Sequestered behind glass walls that keep visitors safe without restricting views, a number of major construction projects can be seen from this vantage point, including the massive E Condos development across Yonge to the east, a venture of developers Bazis and Metropia, in partnership with RioCan, the owner of the Yonge Eglinton Centre.

View of E Condos from the Yonge Eglinton Centre patio, image by Jack Landau

Once the weather warms up we can expect to see this new outdoor space outfitted with patio furniture and umbrellas, as well as greenery and a water feature, as per the aerial rendering of the project.

Rendering of the rooftop patio space at the Yonge Eglinton Centre, image courtesy of RioCan

Finishing touches continue elsewhere in the complex, most notably on the south side fronting Eglinton Avenue, where installation of opaque black and translucent white cladding are dramatically altering the former Brutalist aesthetic of the complex's base.

Exterior view of the addition, new south cladding visible on left, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Roundabout

The additional 40,000 square feet in the cube brings the retail component of the Yonge Eglinton Centre up to a total of 264,418 square feet. Combined with the 754,068 square feet of office space housed within the complex's 22 and 30-storey office towers, the total area of the complex has risen to 1,014,517 square feet of space.

Additional information and renderings can be found in our 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.