As University Avenue gets more attention from developers seeking to build taller on existing office buildings, the Residences at the RCMI by Tribute Communities are close to topping off above a former club, soon to be recreated. Now stretching 35 storeys tall, with 7 more floors still to go, UrbanToronto forum member Dumitru Onceanu strolled by and shared these recent construction photos showing the latest progress.

The east and west elevations of the building bear gray-tinted glass with vertical white spandrel accent stripes, all framed by dark gray mullions. The north elevation is animated by a checkerboard pattern of black, white and grey panels, a playful backdrop for the south-facing tenants in the Air Miles Tower right next door. Zeidler Partnership Architects are the Architects of Record.

Black, white and grey cladding on the north side of RCMI, image by UT forum member Dumitru Onceanu

A dark granite now covers the lowest levels of the tower, while the unclad stripes will end up with metallic inserts when finished.

Stone-clad base of Residences at the RCMI, image by UT forum member Dumitru Onceanu

Here's a close-up showing how the metal panel wraps the balcony edge on two out of every seven floors. The remaining balconies will retain a thinner profile.

Residences at the RCMI, image by UT forum member Dumitru Onceanu

Zooming out, you can also see the track in place to receive the metal panel on the floor above for the next, and then six floors above that again. Wrapping the north corner, the effect of alternating metal striping adds another level of detail to the overall elevation. It creates a pattern of horizontal fins that will butt into a tall vertical metal-clad fin that runs the full height of the building on the University Avenue (west) face.

South-facing balconies of Residences at the RCMI, image by UT forum member Dumitru Onceanu

Here's another look at the granite-clad tower base. The above-mentioned horizontal banding will also wrap the corners on the lower balconies and cantilever over a replica of the original façade of the Royal Canadian Military Institute.

Residences at the RCMI, image by UT forum member Dumitru Onceanu

A street level, a steel skeleton is now being erected at the base's lower floors in order to install the RCMI façade.

Steel skeleton for recreating the Royal Canadian Military Institute, image by Dumitru Onceanu

Below is a rendering of the entry that will greet residents and visitors to the Residences at the RCMI.