490 
At the intersection of Yonge and Wellesley Streets, the towering outline of 8 Wellesley has markedly ascended since UrbanToronto’s last update in November, 2023. Eight months later, this joint venture between CentreCourt and Bazis has more than doubled in height, with construction advancing to the mechanical penthouse levels, with concrete forming having been completed. The distinctive sloped elevation along Yonge Street has emerged as the standout feature of this L-shaped, Arcadis-designed tower. The slope allows the building to conform to an angular plane that it 15 off the perpendicular as measured from the street frontage on the opposite side of Yonge Street.
From a high vantage point looking northwest in March, 2024, the sloping east elevation is beginning to take shape, evident in the top few storeys of the arm that extends towards Yonge. Cladding and glazing work has advanced up to approximately the 29th floor, employing black aluminum panels and tinted glazing. Formwork is actively progressing on roughly the 45th floor, with a red concrete boom pump centrally positioned to the right of the tower crane. In the backdrop are cranes above the construction sites of 11 YV and The One, dwarfing 8 Wellesley on their way to 62 and 91 storeys respectively, though The One’s final storey-count remains uncertain.
In an image from last month looking southeast, we see the north and west elevations. The slope has advanced about 18 storeys toward the top, with construction transitioning from residential floors to the lower mechanical penthouse level, seen on the left of the top floor. Cladding has ascended to approximately the 44th storey.
This month as work continues, the upper mechanical penthouse levels and 55 residential floors below them are fully formed. The south elevation of the Yonge Street arm features bright vertical fins that accentuate the height. The cladding has reached the slope, with about eight residential floors yet to be enveloped.
Looking up from the bustling intersection of Yonge and Wellesley streets, the tower's south elevation is characterized by a pronounced cantilever above the eighth storey, which overhangs the heritage facades at 10 through 16 Wellesley Street West. These structures are seen to the left at grade along Wellesley Street West, partially hidden behind blue hoarding as they undergo restoration to serve future retail and lobby functions. The first eight storeys of the building display its volumetric form enhanced by the glazing and cladding, contrasting with the older red brick of the surrounding low-rises, with a step-back at the seventh storey leading to the ascending tower.
8 Wellesley will reach a final height of 182.15m, contributing 600 residential units to Downtown Toronto, just steps away from Wellesley station.
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.
* * *
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.
