88 Sheppard Avenue E

We don’t usually use the phrase fun-loving when talking about a residential building, but it’s hard to describe the architecture at 88 Sheppard Avenue East in any other way. The fact that the building is a soaring glass tower is nothing too special; instead, it’s the playful red base and off-kilter columns surrounding the front door that cause this condo to stand out.

Minto, the developers behind the EI8HTY8 Condos, had balance in mind when creating this building in 2015. Their aim was to offer refuge for residents who spend their days working hard in the big city. Once back home, residents can relax in the calming “water garden,” with seating perched on decks made from ipe wood from the Brazilian rainforest.

The 35-storey tower at 88 Sheppard East was designed by Rafael + Bigauskas Architects, with the landscaping dreamt up by NAK Design Group. The building contains 371 Toronto condos as well as a long list of amenities. Common spaces at the EI8HTY8 Condos include a party room, theatre, business centre, and guest suites, plus a gym with yoga and pilates studio and a spinning room. What’s more, the building is also equipped with visitor parking, a concierge, and a terrace with barbecues.

The North York condos at 88 Sheppard Ave East are named for natural materials, many of which have healing properties: Rose, Redwood, Gingko, Bamboo, and Cherry, to name a few. The building contains studios as well as one, two, and three bedroom homes. Some units contain dens while others don’t, while all of the two bedroom suites contain two bathrooms.

Although suite sizes vary considerably, ranging from 300 to 1,600 square feet, thoughtfully appointed features and finishes are consistent throughout the EI8HTY8 Condos. Homes boast European-inspired cabinetry, granite countertops, engineered laminate flooring with environmentally-friendly acoustic underlay, low-flow toilets, and Energy Star appliances.

Willowdale has changed drastically since its days as a postal village. First settled in 1797, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the North York neighbourhood developed into what it is today. Toward the end of the 20th century, for example, enormous, two-storey luxury homes began to replace older, smaller residences.

The majority of the commercial businesses in the area are concentrated along Yonge Street, just north of Sheppard. The Yonge Sheppard Centre, for one, is home to restaurants, banks, and shops, and sits directly atop the Sheppard-Yonge subway station. Residents can also find a number of specialty grocery stores on Yonge, including Whole Foods, an organic superstore, and M2M, a Korean market.

As for entertainment in Willowdale, residents living at 88 Sheppard East have plenty of choice. Both the Toronto Centre for the Arts and Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk are located on Yonge, allowing residents to take their pick between live entertainment and Hollywood hits. And thanks to the huge Korean and Chinese populations living in the neighbourhood, Willowdale is also home to some truly delicious Asian restaurants.

With the Sheppard-Yonge subway station just 500 metres from 88 Sheppard East, residents have no trouble traversing the city. Those without cars can simply walk 8 minutes in order to board trains heading south toward the downtown core. The trip all the way down to Union Station takes all of about 30 minutes from the EI8HTY8 Condos.

Drivers, on the other hand, can use the 401 to travel across the city quickly and efficiently. Driving west allows residents to transfer onto the 427, or to reach Pearson International Airport. An eastbound trip on the 401 is also ideal for anyone looking to reach the Don Valley Parkway.