Part of the ongoing transformation of North York City Centre into a commercial and high-rise residential hub, Hullmark Centre is the latest in a string of developments to contribute to this reinvention. Developed by Tridel and Hullmark with design by Kirkor Architects, the two towers of this mixed-use complex rise 49 and 35 storeys with a public square fronting onto the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue East. The taller, north tower will house office space on its first 12 floors while the south tower will be exclusively residential. Joining the two towers will be a commercial podium with Whole Foods as the anchor tenant and a direct connection to Yonge/Sheppard Subway Station also included. Replacing a strip mall that used to occupy the site, this project makes more efficient use of the land given its proximity to rapid transit as well as Highway 401. The public plaza as well as substantial retail component are a welcome addition and much-needed as the area has seen a sharp increase in population in recent years.

Below is a site plan for the development:

Site Plan for Hullmark Centre, image courtesy of Tridel & Hullmark

Although not labelled on the site plan, the retail units will be housed beneath the space allocated to condo amenities. The office component of the 49-storey tower will have a dedicated lobby with access from the plaza at the northwest corner of the site as well as from Sheppard Avenue East. The entrance for the residences will be located at 5 Sheppard Avenue East. The lobby for the south tower will be located at 2 Anndale Drive.

Below is an update on construction. With excavation having begun a little over a year ago, the project has recently pushed above ground level with work now progressing on the first several floors. This first picture shows the project as viewed from a block south of Yonge & Sheppard:

The southwest corner of the site, image courtesy of drum118.

Below are two perspectives showing construction progressing on the north tower:

View of construction from Sheppard Avenue East, image courtesy of drum118

Looking down at the northeast corner of the site fronting onto Sheppard Avenue East, image courtesy of Forum member jivey80

Taking a look at the southern portion of the site, work on the first couple stories of the podium and residential tower has been completed:

Looking north from Anndale Drive, image courtesy of drum118

A view of work on the plaza:

The plaza begins to take shape, image courtesy of jivey80

A rendering of what the public space will look like when completed:

Rendering of the plaza, image courtesy of Tridel & Hullmark.

Taking a look inside the office component the project, the renderings below reveal that wood will form a substantial portion of the design of the common spaces. Warm, contemporary and sharp, the design of the interior was undertaken by Mike Niven Interior Design & SGH Design Partners

Rendering of the lobby of the office component at the Hullmark Centre, image courtesy of Tridel and Hullmark

Rendering of the elevator bank for the offices at Hullmark Centre, image courtesy of Tridel and Hullmark

And to conclude this construction update, below we have a rendering of what the project will look like when completed in 2013.

Rendering of Hullmark Centre, image courtesy of Tridel & Hullmark

What do you think of the project? Join our discussion here and share your thoughts. Make to sure to also take a look at our dataBase listing below for more information on the development.