South of Don Mills subway station and Fairview Mall, the Parkway Forest community in the Toronto borough of North York has undergone a major change over the last decade. Many of the area's mid-20th century apartment buildings have been replaced by the initial phases of ELAD Canada's Emerald City community, which has since brought the area six residential towers along with mid-rise buildings and townhomes, and a new community centre serving the rebuilt community. Now, construction is progressing on Emerald City's last three towers at the south end of the site where Helen Lu Road meets Don Mills Road, and made up of phases known as The Peak at 33 storeys, The Point at 24 storeys, and Lumina at 15 storeys.

Block C (R) rendered into Emerald City community, image courtesy of ELAD Canada

This last ground of three buildings pretty much mirrors the massing and design of the middle block of phases to the north. Designed by WZMH Architects like the previous Emerald City phases, the latest block kicked off construction in February, 2018 with a ground breaking ceremony. When we last checked in on the progress in March, 2019, a pair of cranes were busy with the forming of a site-wide 900+ space parking garage, while preparations were being made to install a third crane on the footprint of the 15-storey Lumina building along the site's Don Mills frontage.

Looking north across site of Emerald City Block C, image by Forum contributor rudy

A recent panoramic view facing north across the site (above) shows varying states of progress for the three towers, with four cranes now active on the site. At the southeast corner of the site, on the right in the view above, The Peak is well ahead of the other two towers, destined to be the tallest building in Block C when it tops out 106.7 metres high. Forming for The Peak has reached the ninth floor, and forming is only increasing in speed with repeating floor layouts now being formed.

Looking north to The Peak, image by UT Forum contributor drum118

As the tower floors ascend higher, preparations are being made for the first exterior finishes on the podium levels. Insulation installed along the podium's Forest Manor Road shows the outline of where punched windows will be framed by brick and precast concrete finishes.

Looking northwest to The Peak, image by UT Forum contributor drum118

At the north end of the site, Helen Lu Road climbs a hill as it moves into the community. Work on The Point's podium there is at five storeys over Don Mills Road, but four storeys at Forest Manor Road. As the The Point rises towards an eventual 24-storey/80.1-metre height, the podium is revealing its concave crescent-shaped massing following the curve of Helen Lu Road.

Looking southwest to The Point, image by UT Forum contributor drum118

To the west along Don Mills, the 15-storey Lumina has just begun to sprout above grade, standing three storeys tall. This building will eventually top out at just shy of 57 metres.

Looking northwest to Lumina, image by UT Forum contributor drum118

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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