Proposed Toronto condo tower seeking gargantuan 18-storey increase

A proposed condo development just grew by 18 floors since it was first pitched in 2023, and is now planned to soar 63 levels into the sky.

The evolving proposal from BV Realty Partners is planned to rise from 2 Cawthra Square, a short street extending roughly 100 metres west from Jarvis Street just north of Wellesley.

An April 2023 proposal for the same site called for 45 storeys and the demolition of a group of homes from 2 through 12 Cawthra Square.

Among these properties, two of the homes (at 6 and 8 Cawthra Square) were designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in a June 2024 council decision, sending planners back to the drawing board to formulate a new plan incorporating the heritage-protected structures that were previously slated for demolition.

The resulting updated plan features a design from ZAS Architects that retains the outer facades and roofs of the two heritage homes, which would be surrounded by a modern podium with V-shaped structural elements supporting cantilevered levels above.

The tower's proposed height has leapt from 45 floors to 63, gaining 18 storeys since the last submission, now planned to reach a height of almost 207 metres. If completed today, it would rank as the 23rd tallest building in Toronto.

As one would imagine with such a substantial height increase, there has been a corresponding jump in unit count. 

The revised 2024 plan proposes 590 new units, including 576 condos and 14 rentals to replace those on site today, in accordance with the City's rental housing demolition policies. This figure represents a significant increase from the 474 units proposed just the year before.

Other changes introduced to the plan since last year include a new self-contained community office hub measuring roughly 517 square metres in the western portion of the podium.

The proposal also notes that the plan's consolidation of residential properties on Cawthra Square presents a future opportunity to close a section of the short street to traffic and convert it to a pedestrian-focused mews that would act as a reimagined entrance to Barbara Hall Park just west of the site.

Planners representing the developer note the opportunity to intensify a "built-up area in the Downtown Toronto Urban Growth Centre making use of existing infrastructure within three major transit station areas."

As such, the plan proposes very little in the way of vehicle parking, with just 26 spaces (18 for residents and eight for visitors) within its two-level underground parking component. The majority of residents would be expected to make use of both public transit and a significant bicycle parking component of 650 spaces.

New Ontario neighbourhood will be heated and cooled using sewage

A brand-new Ontario neighbourhood that will rise from the site of a former pollution-spewing coal plant will be powered by poop — or, more specifically, the heat energy of wastewater after it has been treated to remove said poop.

Representatives of the City of Mississauga, Lakeview Community Partners Limited (LCPL), Enwave Lakeview Corporation and the Region of Peel were on hand last Monday to mark the start of construction for the new district energy system that will power the 16,000 homes of the forthcoming Lakeview Village community.

The ground breaking ceremony comes after years of collaboration and the signing of agreements between Mississauga and Enwave to build the innovative new district energy system, which will use a network of pipes originating from a central building to heat and cool the enormous 177-acre Lakeview Village community.

The community will rise from the site of the former Lakeview Generating Station, a massive coal-burning power station that loomed over the Mississauga waterfront from 1962 until its closure in 2005 and phased demolition in 2006 and 2007.

As part of a plan from the Region of Peel and Enwave to further decrease greenhouse gas emissions from the district energy system, the system is proposed to use treated wastewater, or effluent, from the nearby G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility as its primary source of low-carbon energy.

Effluent from the treatment plant is currently an untapped source of power, though wastewater will eventually redirected to this new central building and transformed into energy to control the temperatures of homes in the community.

Despite the plan to use effluent as the main source of power, Enwave has stated that this will not occur at the outset, and only after a "transition" from other energy sources.

Now, I know what you're all probably wondering right now, and despite the origin of this energy, these systems operate entirely odour-free.

Aside from their green advantages over other energy sources, Enwave stated in a press release that these systems are also more reliable and resilient than traditional energy systems.

The district energy operations centre, which will be operated by Enwave, will share a building with a new sewage pumping station operated by the Region of Peel. The building is also set to house an educational space for locals.

"This development is a complex undertaking, which will be the largest of its kind in North America with the integration of effluent, and would not be possible without the determination and collaboration demonstrated by all partners," said Carlyle Coutinho, CEO of Enwave Energy Corporation.

"Together, we are implementing big ideas and critical thinking to achieve the ambitious goals set for this project, and Enwave is proud to make this district energy system a reality." 

Construction is already in full swing (ceremonial ground breakings often occur months after the true construction start), with a crane now installed at the site.

October also marked the start of construction for the community's first residential building, which is expected to welcome its first residents in early 2029.

Groundbreaking partnership will boost inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA

A transformative $25-million investment from Scarborough-based entrepreneur Sam Ibrahim will establish the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership at University of Toronto Scarborough.

The new Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership at University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) will take the region’s innovation ecosystem to the next level and equip student entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to flourish.

The Sam Ibrahim Centre will leverage the University’s vast pool of research and innovation expertise and global networks to provide entrepreneurs at UTSC with connections, resources and learning opportunities that can help accelerate their ideas and ventures. It will also encourage student entrepreneurs to develop their ideas directly in Scarborough, helping to spur economic growth for the Eastern GTA.

“The University of Toronto is renowned for its entrepreneurship network,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “Sam Ibrahim’s visionary partnership with the University will help us enhance our impact on innovation in the Eastern GTA and show the world that U of T Scarborough is a vibrant hub for amazing, inclusive excellence in entrepreneurship. At the Sam Ibrahim Centre, our student entrepreneurs will have what they need to start and grow the next generation of Canadian ventures.”

UTSC’s campus-led accelerators will be aligned to offer the complete portfolio of coaching for successful entrepreneurs at the Sam Ibrahim Centre, which, as a collision space, will extend their reach and impact and foster new collaborations. The Sam Ibrahim Centre will allow UTSC to expand on the programming these accelerators offer, support outreach activities such as work-integrated learning opportunities and lecture series and enhance the Eastern GTA’s broader innovation ecosystem by creating a network of new entrepreneurial leaders in the region.

“This partnership with Sam Ibrahim will allow UTSC to play a key role in helping to develop the next generation of Scarborough-based entrepreneurs,” said Wisdom Tettey, U of T Vice-President and Principal of U of T Scarborough. “A core mission of the Centre is to ensure its innovators embody leadership values that promote Sam and U of T’s commitments to inclusive and equitable communities. We are all excited about the enduring legacy of creativity and impact that this will ignite.”

“This partnership with Sam Ibrahim will allow UTSC to play a key role in helping to develop the next generation of Scarborough-based entrepreneurs”

— Wisdom Tettey

Equity and inclusion will be central to the Sam Ibrahim Centre’s activities. As part of this core commitment, student entrepreneurs who face financial barriers will be eligible for three new awards generously established by Sam Ibrahim as part of this investment: the Sam Ibrahim Awards, the Gabriel Fanous Awards, and the Shaemin Ukani Awards.

“The Sam Ibrahim Centre will help inspire UTSC’s students to dream big, chase the impossible—and bring others along with them,” said Neel Joshi, Dean of Student Experience & Wellbeing at UTSC. “It will be a place that ignites hope and serves as a catalyst for real economic change fueled by inclusive excellence.”

The Centre will convene renowned leaders and experts, including through two new positions established by this investment: the Sam Ibrahim Chair in Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who will lead the vision for the Centre, and an entrepreneur-in-residence, who will provide valuable mentorship to up-and-coming innovators.

This new partnership will also support the construction of the Sam Ibrahim Building on Military Trail. Set to open in 2024, the building will act as a central hub for UTSC’s North Campus, housing the Sam Ibrahim Centre as well as Student Services offices and spaces for the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences.

“Scarborough is home to so many young people with great ideas,” said Sam Ibrahim. “As a Scarborough entrepreneur myself, I want to make sure that the next generation can start and scale their ventures right here.”

“As a Scarborough entrepreneur myself, I want to make sure that the next generation can start and scale their ventures right here”

— Sam Ibrahim

Sam Ibrahim is a noted business leader in Scarborough who strongly believes in the capabilities of the community and is deeply invested in it. He is the President and General Manager of the Arrow Group of Companies, which provides strategic consulting and talent solutions to a wide range of industries. He is also a familiar face at UTSC as the Co-Founder of the Scarborough Shooting Stars, the first-ever Greater Toronto Area-based franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Shooting Stars play at the campus’s Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

This is one of the largest contributions ever received by UTSC and Sam Ibrahim’s first to the University, making it one of the largest ever to U of T from a first-time donor.

“I would like to thank Sam Ibrahim for his vision,” said David Palmer, Vice President, Advancement. “His philanthropic investment is one of the largest ever for the Eastern GTA and is sure to inspire others to support Scarborough’s diverse and growing community at this exciting time for the region.”

Sam Ibrahim’s philanthropic investment is contributing to Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the University of Toronto. Under the banner of inclusive excellence, Defy Gravity seeks to harness the power of our worldwide community of alumni, faculty, students and supporters to create the talent, innovations and solutions for today’s most pressing challenges. As the largest advancement campaign in Canadian history, Defy Gravity is raising the bar for engagement and charitable giving in this country and fueling U of T’s mission as one of the world’s largest engines of social mobility and progress.

TAS Shares Condo Concept for Walmer Road Baptist Church Redevelopment

TAS has shared the conceptual design for a project involving the Walmer Road Baptist Church at 38 Walmer Road in The Annex neighbourhood of Toronto. Working with the church, the developer is proposing to add a 20-storey condo designed by ZAS Architects at the west end of the property. 

The existing church was founded in 1889, and since then has hosted not only religious services, but also a food bank, a theatre initiative, and Canada’s first co-located daycare.

Under the supervision of ERA Architects, the new 162-unit residential building would be integrated into the church building, which would feature a refurbished sanctuary along with new meeting space for the Walmer Road Baptist Church congregation, and a new commercial community hub.

The commercial community hub in the base is proposed as a place to maintain the sanctuary’s historical role as a centre for the community, social connection, and also social innovation.

Also part of the plans is a publicly accessible gh3-designed courtyard for residents and members of the local neighbourhood to enjoy. The landscaped courtyard would feature a sheltered seating area.

The proposed development is located a short walk from Spadina subway station on both University Line 1 and Bloor Line 2. 

We will continue to follow progress on the 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.

ZAS Architects + Interiors promotes Leigh Collyer

The Vancouver studio of ZAS Architects + Interiors has promoted Leigh Collyer, B. Arts, LEED ID+C AP to principal. As interior design director, Collyer has played an integral role in the growth and development of the firm’s Vancouver office.

Through building a talented and collaborative team, Collyer has successfully won long-term contracts with major financial institutions including HSBC, Bank of Montreal, and other credit unions. Her flexible and strategic approach to interiors has been pivotal in supporting clients with the recent acceleration of shifting demands and behaviours in the workplace, particularly as Canadians cross-country prepare to return to the office with the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

“Workplace design has reached an exciting and crucial moment, accelerated by the pandemic and ubiquity of remote work across many sectors. There has been a significant shift in the way we think about our offices and how we collaborate and connect. Gone-are-the-days of static cubicles or workstations – it’s time now that we continue to develop new strategies for vibrant and healthy workspaces that produce results through our interior design,” says Collyer. “It has been so rewarding to work closely with our clients to create amazing spaces that support new ways of working.”

Collyer has nearly 20 years of design and project management experience, servicing numerous long-time clients from Canada’s leading financial institutions. In 2022, Collyer has been focused on supporting HSBC’s new head office design, representing an entirely new way of working for bank employees through a hub-and-spoke workplace model. Another recent project includes directing the successful completion of new corporate offices for Microsoft, one of the largest adaptive re-use projects in the office’s history.

“Leigh has always been an extremely valuable and celebrated part of the ZAS team. Her leadership and results speak for themselves, having built our interior design studio from the ground up, maintaining and growing relationships with some of Canada’s top financial institutions for many years. It was important for us to recognize her work, tenure, and many contributions to ZAS’ practice. Congratulations from the entire ZAS team Leigh, we look forward to many more years of success together,” says Paul Stevens, Senior Principal, ZAS.

ZAS Architects reveals new mass timber headquarters for Toronto’s top natural resource conservation agency

Into the Woods

While its sprawling and diverse lakeshore tends to get a bulk of the attention, the defining natural feature of Toronto, for many, is its urban forest. Functioning like a green circulatory system, Toronto’s park-studded, trail-laced ravine system is unruly, untamed, and mysterious as it snakes through the city. It’s also ailing and not always accessible to all. Home to a wide number of ecosystems and a vast amount of wildlife, it’s the largest ravine system of its kind in the world, encompassing roughly 27,000 acres of public and private land. Together, these gulches, gullies, and forested river valleys constitute roughly 17 percent of Toronto’s total landmass.

It’s only fitting then that the joint provincial-municipal agency tasked with protecting a large swath of Toronto’s ravine system, the watershed-focused Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), is building a new headquarters both inspired by, and perched on, the edge of one the city’s signature geographic features, a Black Creek ravine.

Designed by local firm ZAS Architects + Interiors in collaboration with Bucholz McEvoy Architects, TRCA’s new headquarters will be an (almost) wholly wood affair—a cedar-clad mass timber structure that pointedly eschews concrete and steel and, per ZAS, “provides a strong biophilic work environment and acts as a repeated visual reminder of the building’s connection to the natural environment.”

Breaking ground in January 2020, the four-story mass timber structure is set to be complete by September of this year with occupancy scheduled for September 2022.

“We envisioned TRCA’s new workplace as one that will inspire, motivate and support the culture of its employees, who are champions of the local environment. We approached the design as an opportunity to reimagine the TRCA’s relationship with Black Creek Ravine, of which TRCA is a guardian,” said ZAS principal Peter Duckworth Pilkington in a statement.

Located on Shoreham Drive adjacent to the campus of York University in Toronto’s North York district, the 87,000-square-foot administrative office building aims to be one of the most energy-efficient commercial mid-rise buildings in North America. To achieve this goal (the project is targeting Net Carbon Zero, LEED Platinum V4, Toronto Green Standard Level 2, and WELL Silver certifications), the “wood first” building will feature an impressive range of sustainable systems including an energy-efficient building envelope, geothermal energy, roof-mounted solar panels, solar chimneys, an advanced HVAC system, and an automated exterior blind system that manages heating and cooling.

As detailed by ZAS, the automation system will alert TRCA employees via their personal devices as to when to either open or close windows so that the building is always using energy in an optimal manner. This will, according to the firm, engage occupants “to become active participants, much like they are active stewards of resource management for the community.”

Other notable, environmental impact-lowering features of the future TRCA HQ are a green roof, rainwater harvesting system, sustainable landscaping, and a quartet of soaring, glass-encased “water walls” in the building’s main atrium. The water walls will pull double duty, serving as part of the building’s HVAC system while also acting as a highly visible reminder of the agency’s raison d’être: safeguarding the Greater Toronto Area’s watersheds.

“Through the water wall feature, we’re making the building’s life support systems that are usually hidden infrastructure visible and tangible. Making the invisible, visible when it comes to energy use, serves as a very real reminder of the impact our daily lives and decisions have on the planet every day,” elaborated Duckworth Pilkington.

As described by ZAS Architects, views from the building’s south-facing facade will pull the edge of Black Creek ravine “visually into the core of the project, providing opportunities for employees and visitors to engage with the natural landscape.”

As for the building’s Ontario-sourced exterior cedar cladding, it references the historic structures of the adjacent Black Creek Pioneer Village, a TRCA-operated open-air heritage museum centered around a collection of historic 19th-century buildings. Established in 1957, the TRCA is currently headquartered in the city of Vaughn, just north of Toronto proper, not too far from its Kortright Centre for Conservation. (David Cronenberg fans will recognize the one of center’s modernist buildings as the Somafree Institute from The Brood.)

The cost of TRCA’s mass timber ravine-side head offices is roughly $53.6 million ($65 million CAD) with support coming from the NRCan GCWood Program. Once completed and operational, it’s expected that the TRCA’s new North York home will enjoy dramatically reduced operating costs (and carbon emissions) compared to comparably sized office buildings.