386 Yonge St, Toronto

Aura Condos at College Park is home to a whopping 995 units, although that number seems all the less whopping when taking into consideration the fact that the building reaches to 78 storeys.

Yes, you did read that right. At a staggering 78 storeys, it's not just the tallest Toronto condo — it's the largest condo tower in the country. Breaking this record in 2015, Canderel Stoneridge and Graziani + Corazza Architects are the tag team behind the building that allows its residents to “live the sky life.”

And whether one likes it or not, residents will be reminded of home from anywhere they happen to be in the city — all they have to do is look up.

A granite base at the corner of Yonge and Gerrard is topped with a slender glass tower with hints of steel. Inside, a huge, hotel inspired lobby is ready to make residents and their guests feel blessed.

Naturally, in a building so large the architects and developers were sure to leave plenty of space for amenities. Living at 386-388 Yonge Street means access to a party room, a theatre, a sauna, visitor parking, a meeting room, security and 24-hour concierge services, guest suites, and billiards room.

The building even boasts a gym with its own name: “Hard Candy.” Make of the name what you will, the 40,000 square foot space features registered massage therapists and workout classes, plus Aura residents are even entitled to $100 worth of drinks at the gym’s juice bar. In actuality, the gym was designed by Madonna and named for one of her albums.

And to top it all off, there’s a rooftop deck on the 5th floor for residents to relax on, and below 180,000 square feet of retail space can be found. The numerous banks will come in handy on an everyday basis, but the Marshalls and Bed Bath and Beyond will certainly be useful to new residents who are moving in or anyone hoping to redecorate, and with trendy Yorkville to the north, those with more discerning tastes have unique options like InSTYLE Home & Rugs and Structube.

While some units at 386-388 Yonge Street are reasonably sized and therefore reasonably priced compared to other Bay St condos for sale, there are a couple of palatial suites for those interested in raising a family — or hosting a small army — here. The homes at Aura Condos range from approximately 500 to 3,000 square feet, and feature one to three bedrooms depending on the unit.

Starting on the 79th floor, penthouses have four bedrooms and dens, although there are even a couple of “sub-penthouses” for those who aren’t ready to take the full plunge just yet. And while amazing views are to be had by all, these only get better the closer one lives to the top.

Regardless of what size one’s unit may be, residents can all bask in the glory of their floor-to-ceiling windows (hence all the glass that makes up the exterior). Living spaces are open concept, allowing bright sunlight to illuminate each nook and cranny, while the overall aesthetic is bright, modern, and elegant.

It doesn’t get more central than this; residents of the Aura Condos are steps to the Eaton Centre, Ryerson University, Queen’s Park, Church Street, and so much more.

Residents of 386-388 Yonge Street also don’t need to travel far in order to stock up on staples or gather fresh groceries. There’s a Sobeys Urban Fresh just downstairs, as well as a Bulk Barn at the corner of Yonge and College. Yonge is also home to a number of Korean supermarkets, while those in search of organics will be happy to hear that a massive Whole Foods is just a quick TTC ride away as well.

In terms of entertainment, the options truly are endless. Movies can be found playing at the Imagine Cinemas at Yonge and College; Live performances can be taken in at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre while the Phoenix Concert Theatre is a great spot for music lovers; even the Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario are just a short trip away, while those in search of a gallery can also head over to the Ryerson Image Centre.

Traveling to and from one’s home at Aura Condos is simple, thanks to its central location in downtown Toronto. College Station is just downstairs, and from there passengers can hop onto subway trains heading north or south along Yonge Street.

Union Station takes all of about 10 minutes to reach via the Yonge subway line, from which travelers can connect to VIA Rail trains, GO buses or trains, and the UP service to Pearson International Airport.

While drivers might want to avoid the streets during rush hour, those who are heading out by car can zip down to the Gardiner Expressway or travel east toward the Don Valley Parkway in no time.