It was nearly two months ago that UrbanToronto provided an update on the construction status for Tridel's Alter. At that time, the tower floor plates were beginning to take shape, rising above the project's 4-storey podium. Deltera construction workers are now pouring the floor slab for the 16th level; just shy to halfway the final height of 33 storeys. More conspicuously, cladding installation is now also underway, with the lower levels beginning to hint at the tower's eventual aesthetic.

Looking south towards Alter, image by Greg Lipinski

Designed by architectsAlliance, the building's cladding consists of several elements. The first pieces were installed just over a month ago on the 5th floor, comprised of a mix of window wall and dark grey spandrel. Next up, two white precast panels made their way onto the southern and western elevations of the building's tower levels. These opaque panels will form over 3-storey sections, patterned along the edges of each elevation. More translucent white cladding will connect horizontally to the outer opaque panels.

Curtain wall installation on the podium level, image by Greg Lipinski

Closer to street level, another cladding system now also covers much of the podium. Set in a two-tone curtain wall system, the podium is highlighted by white spandrel curtain wall, adding a level of contrast to the project. Though not yet installed, brick cladding will be implemented on the ground level for the townhouses along Alter's north frontage.

Close-up of the window wall and white precast cladding, image by Greg Lipinski

At the current rate, construction workers are averaging just over a floor per week, with structural topping out expected this Fall. Rising to a height of 104 metres (354 ft), Alter will add 340 residential units to the rapidly densifying Church Street corridor.

Looking north to the site from Church and Gerrard, image by Greg Lipinski

At ground level, approximately 2,336 ft² of retail will front Church St. Throughout the upper podium levels, meanwhile, Family Service Toronto (FST) will occupy over 34,300 ft² of office space. FST be returning back to a site they vacated prior to demolition in the first half of 2015.

A rendering of the completed project, image via submission to the City of Toronto

We will provide you with updates as construction progresses. Additional information and renderings can be found in the project's dataBase, linked below. Want to share your thoughts on the project? Feel free to write a comment using the space provided below, or join in the ongoing discussion in the associated Forum thread.