Located in the heart of Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, 38 Walmer Road is a redevelopment project that bridges the past and future through thoughtful design and community-focused planning. The proposal introduces a 25-storey residential tower to the site of the historic Walmer Road Baptist Church (WRBC), delivering much-needed housing while preserving and celebrating a key architectural and cultural landmark.
The design honours the legacy of the WRBC, which has served as a hub for community, social innovation, and spiritual life for over a century. An iconic part of the Annex streetscape, the church building will be carefully restored and adaptively reused as a vibrant commercial and community hub. Within the podium of the new tower, a modern, purpose-built space will be created for the congregation, ensuring the church’s presence remains integral to the site’s future.
The design sensitively integrates new architecture with heritage elements. The tower’s form and material palette draw direct inspiration from the WRBC, featuring brick piers and arches that echo the neighbourhood’s historic fabric while creating a distinctive vertical rhythm. This architectural dialogue reinforces a sense of continuity and place.
In collaboration with TAS and the WRBC, this development is more than a building—it’s a commitment to community-building and responsible city-making. 38 Walmer Road exemplifies how architectural excellence, adaptive reuse, and public realm design can come together to create a meaningful and lasting impact in one of Toronto’s most beloved neighbourhoods.
