In a city where rectilinear "boxy" developments are the norm, few ongoing Toronto high-rise projects have captured the imagination of local architecture buffs quite like Oxford Properties' EY Tower. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in partnership with WZMH, the 40-storey office tower topped off earlier this year at the corner of Adelaide and Sheppard in the Financial District, and in the months since, interior fit-outs have come a long way while the installation of the building's exterior envelope is rapidly approaching completion.

EY Tower (right) viewed from Nathan Phillips Square, image by Marcus Mitanis

A high-quality, reflective curtainwall cladding system now seals off the majority of the structure, with just a few panels awaiting installation before the building envelope is complete. While the north facade (seen above)—highly prominent from Nathan Phillips Square and views from the north on Bay Street—is now almost 100% covered in these curtainwall panels, there are still relatively small sections of the south facade and pitched roof covering awaiting cladding.

Worm's-eye view of EY Tower captured from the southwest corner of the base, image by Forum contributor condovo

As cladding installation races towards completion, the removal of a large section of hoarding along the east side of the building's base has allowed UrbanToronto Forum contributors to explore the now exposed details of the re-constructed facades of the heritage Concourse Building with their cameras.

Removal of hoarding opening up views of the tower's base, image by Forum contributor salsa

Among the most impressive features now capturing the attention of inquisitive passersby, are the restored mosaics by famed Group of Seven artist J.E.H. MacDonald. Now quite visible from street level, the mosaic panels are just a few of the many decorative elements that make up the reconstructed archway entrance along the building's Adelaide Street frontage. 

Archway entrance along Adelaide, image by Forum contributor salsa

Mosaics at the base of EY Tower, image by Forum contributor skycandy

Similarly-detailed stonework on the reconstructed Concourse facades further adds to the interest in the project.

Stonework on the reconstructed Concourse Building facades, image by Forum contributor salsa

A row of spotlights were recently installed along the upper levels of the reconstructed Concourse facade. They will light up the restored Art Deco cornice details seen in the image below, a highly decorative flourish rarely embraced by Toronto's conservative office market, but sure to be appreciated by many.

Spotlights for future uplighting, image by Forum contributor skycandy

You can see more of the heritage restoration examined in detail in our recent tour of the site.

The removal of hoarding has also revealed the start of sidewalk reinstallation along the tower's Sheppard Street frontage, a major step in knitting the site back into the public realm. 

Sidewalk installation along Sheppard, image by Forum contributor salsa

Further to the north along Sheppard Street, work continues on the installation of exterior finishes on the office building's lofty, double-height lobby space.

Modern lobby space coming together at EY Tower, image by Forum contributor G.L.17

Inside, meanwhile, a new connection to Toronto's subterranean PATH network will give the EY Tower comfortable all-weather accessibility and connectivity with surrounding buildings and the transit system.

Additional information is also available on our associated dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment in the space below this page, or join in the conversation in our associated Forum thread, where regular photo updates are also posted.