Between College and Wellesley subway stations in Downtown Toronto, a stretch of Yonge Street is being built out with new condominium complexes, including one by Lanterra Developments known as TeaHouse 501 Yonge. The architectsAlliance-designed complex is bringing 25 and 52-storey condominium towers along with ground-floor retail to a stretch formerly occupied by a low-rise block of retail.

Looking north to TeaHouse 501 Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

We last checked in on construction in August, 2019 when the complex's 25-storey north tower stood 20 storeys above the Yonge and Maitland intersection, and the 52-storey tower stood 11 storeys above Yonge and Alexander. Over eight months of work later, and the shorter north tower has topped out at just shy of 88 metres, while forming for the taller south tower has progressed well over halfway to the top, now standing approximately 30 storeys tall.

Looking north to TeaHouse 501 Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

At this point, while finishing details are now being applied, neither of the towers nor the podium have enough of the elements in place yet to give a through hint of the final look.

The podium will have three different treatments, one below the north tower, another below the south tower, and a third style between the two towers. The job of each of the treatments is to highlight ground floor retail spaces while hiding the parking garage above: TeaHouse's parking is above ground as the complex is built over the Yonge subway line, which is close to the surface here.

Below the north tower, brick-faced frames mark the podium here, to be filled in with glazing eventually. Behind the frames, cement blocks can be seen walling off the garage floors. The garage walls will be covered here as display space for the retail offerings below.

North tower at TeaHouse 501 Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

Above the garage are two storey of suites glazed in by a window wall system with narrow spandrel panels separating window bays. Aluminum mullions and slab covers frame the windows. A similar window wall system is employed on the tower floors above, while terracotta-coloured horizontal slab covers now accent the balconies.

The central portion of the podium does not have any exterior finishings yet, but under the south tower, glass panels have not been applied which mimic Japanese shoji walls. It is below this section of glazing where there will be a retail teahouse taking design cues from traditional Japanese teahouses.

South end of podium at TeaHouse 501 Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

Above, the south tower is being clad in a window wall similar to its sibling to the north, its balconies already having clear glass guards installed.

South tower at TeaHouse 501 Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

Once complete, the project will bring 608 condominium units to this increasingly-dense stretch of Downtown Yonge Street.

TeaHouse 501 Yonge, image via submission to City of Toronto

You can learn more by visiting the project's Database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field below.

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