Toronto House (19 Duncan)

Toronto, ON

Toronto House combines a 57-storey tower with the heritage-listed Southam Press Building, built in 1908. The redevelopment renovates and adds office space to the site, with the majority of the tower comprising rental units and hotels. The new building extends beside and over the existing 5.5-storey brick structure. To retain the visual integrity of the historic building, the two-storey addition above is recessed at the first floor, with the second floor extending to the edge of the façade below. A green roof atop this addition is an amenity for the tower. The street level is enlivened by a restaurant sidewalk patio, accessed through new windows and doors respectfully cut into the existing architecture.

Project Facts
Client
Allied Properties, Westbank Corp
Location
Toronto, ON
Status
Completed 2025
Size
457,000 sq. ft.
Partner
David Pontarini

The Toronto House project includes the redevelopment of the historic Southam Press Building—a five-storey heritage office building constructed in the early twentieth century. The red brick cladding, with stone, wood, and terracotta detailing, will be restored and incorporated into the new design for 19 Duncan Street.

The new building stretches beside and over the existing 5.5-storey brick structure, extending the structure vertically by 57 storeys and activating the ground level with a new Duncan Street frontage.

Toronto House features vertical fins of varying widths that provide shade and minimize glare, while accentuating the elegant proportions of the building.

With more than a quarter of the development assigned to office space, and a significant portion of the residences sized for families, Toronto House meets the City of Toronto’s goals to add mixed-use, sustainable density in close proximity to a subway station.

The design meets current energy code guidelines through a 40:60 window-to-solid construction ratio.

Our inspiration for the interior design of Toronto House comes from the rich metals and natural wood of the traditional letterpress, responding to the history of the building and its former use.
Juxtaposed against a backdrop of clean, minimal lines and forms, the design strikes a balance between the history and rebirth of this development, with sculptural forms based on the printing press and letterpress kits.

Creating a playful rhythm, the fins cause one’s perception of the building to vary according to different viewing angles. Balconies and breaks in the façade add subtle detail. The fins run from the base to the top of the tower, enclosing two storeys of mechanical infrastructure.

Progress as of fall 2023