In Toronto's North York City Centre area, Pearl Place has made steady progress since construction began in late 2019. Located at 4949 Yonge Street, the site is just a 5-minute walk from the Yonge-Sheppard interchange station served by both Yonge Line 1 and Sheppard Line 4. Developed by the Conservatory Group and designed by Richmond Architects and Zeidler Architecture, the tower is set to stand 34 storeys and 121m upon completion.

Looking southeast to Pearl Place, designed by Richmond Architects and Zeidler Architecture for Conservatory Group

Our initial flashback to March 2020 peers southward, the nascent stages of construction emerging. Excavation had begun in earnest, with excavators shaping the site, with one ascending from the excavation's deeper portion. The elongated site's topography, highlighted by timber hoarding on its flanks, reveals extents of this project.

Looking south to the early stages of excavation, image by Ed Skira

Progress is undeniable by February 2021. The site has metamorphosed to accommodate three towering white cranes, positioned to facilitate efficient progress: one to the south, one centrally, and another to the north. Shoring tiebacks, evident in three rows, strengthen the east wall to the right. The site's north end shows foundational progression for several sub-levels. Orange tarp covers the top of the west shoring wall.

Looking north to the installed tower cranes, image by Ed Skira

A year later in February, 2022, the structure is above-ground. Two podium levels have materialized, with a third underway towards the north. A dense array of yellow and grey shoring poles supports the slab while the concrete cures.

Looking northeast to the initial storeys of the podium, image by Ed Skira

By September 2022, a close-up focuses on the north end of the podium. This narrow section, supported by concrete columns, will allow passage below it.

Looking east to the podium overhang on the north side, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Northern Light

By April, 2023, the tower is 25 storeys tall. Window wall with dark mullions, mostly recessed behind balcony slabs, are now being applied on the lower tower floors. Crews continue to work away at the top of the tower, while the structure's western hoist system is seen rising to the left.

An aerial view looking east to the emerging window pattern, image by Ed Skira

From Yonge Street in June, 2023, framing for the windows is advancing across the podium while the tower's evolving facade installation above draws attention, its windows now spanning over ten floors.

Looking northeast from Yonge Street, image by Craig White

In August, 2023, our eastward gaze captures columns of windows — spanning 16 floors so far — alternating with balconies. The podium now also sports expanses of glass facing Yonge Street.

Gazing upwards at street level to the window pattern, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Undead

Looking north from Sheppard Avenue this month, the tower is in its final stages of ascent, the southward step-back marking the upper sextet of floors complete, and just the mechanical penthouse to finish forming.

A distant view looking northeast, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Undead

Once open, Pearl Place will provide 478 new residential housing units to the North York City Centre.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.

Related Companies:

Egis, Zeidler Architecture