High-rise developments with heritage-sensitive bases are becoming the new norm on Yonge Street in Downtown Toronto, allowing intensified land use while attempting to preserve the scale and fine-grained character of the city's main drag. Just north of Wellesley, Cresford Developments' The Clover on Yonge is following this model with conjoined 44 and 18-storey, architectsAlliance-designed condominium towers that replicate the scale of its surroundings with a heavily articulated podium, setting the new density back from Yonge Street.

Looking south to Clover on Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

The project has been under construction since late 2016, when demolition began to clear away some nondescript low-rise retail at north end of the block, while the walls of a heritage Victorian building at the south end were disassembled. Its western and southern facades will soon be reconstructed and integrated into the podium, now structurally complete. 

Looking southeast to Clover on Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

Shoring began in February 2017, and excavation began soon after. The first tower crane was raised in September 2017, and the underground garage levels had risen back up to street level by June 2018. 14 months later, the conjoined towers have risen to a height of 15 storeys, and cladding installation has begun to enclose the podium levels, while glazing has begun on the tower floors. The podium's mix of curtainwall glazing and vertical aluminum fins with a matte black finish, and stone panel assembly treatments are now being complemented by these new finishes above. 

Looking north to Clover on Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

The two tower volumes—the shorter volume to the north offers a higher-end boutique selection of units—are being clad in different finishes to give each their own unique identity. The main tower volume is being finished in a curtainwall system with reflective glazing, operable windows, grey spandrel panels, and dark frames (seen at left, below). To the north, the shorter tower volume is being clad in a window wall system with precast framing glazing (seen at right, below).

Tower cladding installation for Clover on Yonge, image by Forum contributor Benito

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

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