It has been just over a year since we checked in on the construction progress of AIMco and Oxford Properties' expansion of Yorkdale Mall, and plenty of changes have taken place at the construction site during the last 13 months. The 300,000 ft², $331 million expansion—featuring design work by MMC Architecture—is now just two months away from opening, with the public expected to get their first look inside on Tuesday, October 18, 2016.

Facing northwest towards the Yorkdale Shopping Centre expansion, image by Forum contributor drum118

Construction of the project commenced in late 2013, followed by the 2014 excavation of more than 350,000 cubic metres of earth—enough volume to fill 140 Olympic-sized swimming pools—at a rate of approximately 450 truckloads per day for about six months. If laid out flat, the excavated material from the development's 5-level, 2,000-space underground parking garage would have a surface area large enough to cover 2,100 football fields. 

East entrance, Yorkdale Shopping Centre expansion, image by Forum contributor drum118

The mall expansion will add a 112,000 ft² corridor with approximately 30 new stores. Among the retailers set to take up shop within the expanded mall are UNIQLO, ARC’TERYX, Nadège, Wolford, Reiss, Strellson, Spareparts, Saje, Muji, Samsung and NYX. Mackage will also be opening their first Canadian boutique outside of Quebec. Anchoring the new addition, a 188,000 ft² Nordstrom location is expected to open just a few days later, on October 21st.

Finishing touches being added to the Nordstrom exterior, image by Forum contributor drum118

While the new east entrance and the Nordstrom exterior have both reached apparent completion, a new 69,000 ft² RH (Restoration Hardware) flagship location is still in a much rawer state. After recently reaching structural completion, this three-storey section of the expansion is now being prepared for the installation of its exterior cladding. Once complete, this will be Restoration Hardware's largest Canadian location.

Future Restoration Hardware (RH) location at Yorkdale, image by Forum contributor drum118

Additional information and renderings of the project can be found in our dataBase file, linked below. If you want to get involved in the discussion, check out the project's Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.