Cladding is now giving sharper definition to 8 Elm, the 69-storey condominium tower rising at the corner of Yonge and Elm streets in Downtown Toronto. Designed by Arcadis for Reserve Properties and Capital Developments, with heritage work overseen by GBCA Architects, the project is advancing above its heritage base with new facade elements. Since UrbanToronto’s last update in May, 2025, when the stepped transition from podium to tower was first visible, construction has progressed steadily upward.

Looking northwest to 8 Elm Street, designed by Arcadis for Reserve Properties and Capital Developments

In June, 2025, the first installation of glazing for the main tower volume is visible at the ninth floor, where reflective glass panels are now framed by dark aluminum and topped with black louvres. Slabs, curved at the corners, are supported by temporary shoring posts and encircled with safety fencing. Frames and equipment are seen staged on the 10th floor.

Initial tower glazing installed on the ninth floor, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor skycandy

By mid-July, 2025, 8 Elm reached 17 storeys, with active formwork for the 18th floor. Temporary staging platforms extend from the ninth and 14th floors on the north elevation. Below, glazing is in place on the west elevation up to the 11th floor. On the north side, the eighth-floor terrace acts as a staging area, with stacked formwork panels. The stepped massing is increasingly pronounced here, as cantilevered slabs and growing floor-plates transition the building from base to full tower levels, reached as of the16th floor.

Looking southeast to the angled west elevation, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor lightarchitect

A closer look at the south and west elevations shows the distinctive angled lower tower levels progressing toward the ninth-floor projecting wrap-around balcony slabs, where cladding and glazing are actively being installed. Copper-toned I-beam style frames reflective window panels, while black aluminum louvres sit above the glazing. Sections of insulation board remain where glass will be installed. Crew members work on a suspended platform to the left.

Close-up of cladding and glazing on the west and south elevations of the angled lower levels, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor skycandy

At the northeast corner in August, 2025, preparations are advancing for the installation of the bullnose soffit cladding along the curved slab corners. Metal framing brackets are fixed to the underside of the slab, forming the support system for the soffit profiles, while weatherproofing is wrapped around the perimeter. 

Preparations for bullnose cladding on curved slab edge at the northeast corner, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor skycandy

This month, 8 Elm has climbed to roughly 22 storeys, with formwork in place for the 23rd floor. Looking southwest to the north elevation, the mid-section above the heritage podium remains exposed in concrete. The crane rises from the east elevation, while temporary staging platforms project outwards: sites with little space at ground level require such platforms to store materials on.

Looking southwest from Yonge Street to the north elevation, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ImmenselyMental

Looking northwest, the south elevation along Elm Street features the construction hoist, flanked by projecting staging platforms around the 16th and 18th floors. Below, the cladding of the lower tower volume is mostly complete with copper-toned frames. The cantilevered ninth-floor slab is especially prominent here on the south side, projecting outward to mark the transition to the main tower volume. Above, several balcony soffits starting at the 12th floor have been painted in a copper-toned finish.

Looking northwest to the construction hoist on the south elevation and tower crane on the east elevation, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ImmenselyMental

Once complete, 8 Elm will stand 218.2m tall and deliver 819 residential units.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on these developments, but in the meantime, you can learn more about them from our Database files, 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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Related Companies: 

Aercoustics Engineering Ltd, Arcadis, Capital Developments, Cecconi Simone, Clark Construction Management Inc, Crozier Consulting Engineers, Goldberg Group, Grounded Engineering Inc., Kramer Design Associates Limited, NAK Design Strategies, Rebar Enterprises Inc, Reserve Properties, Sysconverge Inc, The Fence People