B. Streets

Toronto, ON

B. Streets Condos takes design advantage of its situation in downtown Toronto to create a dynamic street experience that efficiently choreographs public, private, and parking access. The mixed-use condominium and retail project fronting on Bathurst Street and Loretta Lane contains nine floors of residential space atop ground-level retail. The typical downtown Toronto laneway provides entry to six additional townhouses. On Bathurst, the upper levels set back in a massing strategy derived as a creative response to zoning envelope restrictions.

Repeated bays articulate along the Bathurst façade, modulating the length of this primary urban street wall. Constructed of dark grey brick, the material palette of the lower floors takes its cue from the surrounding building fabric and provides a strong visual foundation for the white precast panels used for the upper levels. The master plan optimizes the existence of the onsite laneway to organize circulation. Retail uses are accessed off of Bathurst, while Loretta Lane leads to a parking garage and a private drop-off and entry for residents.

Project Facts
Client
Lindvest Developments
Location
Toronto, ON
Status
Completed 2014
Size
162,000 sq. ft.
Partner
David Pontarini
Selected Awards

2015 – City of Toronto, Toronto Urban Design Awards, Award of Merit, Private Buildings in Context - Mid-Rise

2012 – Building Industry and Land Development Association, BILD Awards, High-Rise of the Year

2012 – Ontario Home Builders' Association, Project of the Year, High or Mid-Rise

The mixed-use development is intended to create a dynamic relationship with its immediate context and community by providing a lively façade and a functional retail strip at street level.

The façade’s contrasting materiality—dark brick and smooth concrete accented with punched windows—marks the building’s contemporary design, anchoring it to the street with a strong podium while elegantly stepping back to preserve the integrity of the neighbourhood.

The building is accented with cubic expressions on the front façade—a gesture derived from the restrictions of the zoning envelope. The modular cubes break down the elongated façade along Bathurst Street while providing a clear viewline for pedestrians.

The building’s design pays homage to the shape of the neighbourhood, introducing a contemporary and innovative development to a previously underutilized site within this lively downtown destination.