More than two months since last checking in at the site of Rio Can's sprawling 5th and Third development in East Village, and progress has been ongoing, the 180,000 square-foot podium base continuing to take shape. Located at 5 Ave SE and 3 St SE, spread across an entire city block, the retail base of the two-tower structure has made a massive statement within the rapidly rising neighbourhood. 

5th and Third, cement podium taking shape, image by Forum contributor dazzlingdave88

The massive retail component will eventually become home to Loblaws and sister company Shoppers Drug Mart, with each splitting one full half of the structure. The first grocery store and pharmacy of this scale to enter the East Village, the addition will likely be a welcome one, the area still underserved along by a handful of key services. 

Columns in place, image by Forum contributor dazzlingdave88

Over and above the commercial podium, two high-rise residential towers at 41 and 24 storeys apiece will bring a combined 500 units to the area, providing the stores down below with a healthy base of built-in customers. At 600,000 square feet, the residential component will come in at roughly 3X the size of its retail counterpart. 

5th and Third, as it will appear upon completion, image via Embassy BOSA

5th and Third is set to become one of the tallest projects in the East Village, its glassy, sculptural design by Gibbs Gage, Embassy BOSA, and Hossein Amanat, to give the development a stand out quality amid a neighbourhood known for tall towers and ample steel and glass. Once complete in 2019, the project will be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, the project filling a gap - in more senses than one - in the local landscape. 

SkyriseCalgary will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.