The city of Toronto has been enjoying an architectural renaissance for some time and the development projects have become fancier with each passing year!
An Architectural Rembrandt
Hey One Delisle….tonight, you look so pretty to me. What an exciting project for Toronto. Our spies on the ground tell us, an architectural renaissance has already begun in Toronto with numerous custom residential and commercial projects completed or underway. Each one is contributing to the transformation of the city!
One Delisle is the first residential building in Canada
from world-class designer Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang.
Table of Contents
- An Architectural Rembrandt
- One Delisle Condos
- Project Details
- Jeanne Gang – The Architect
- Weston Walker – Design Principal
- Hey One Delisle….Tonight, You Look So Pretty to Me!
- The Image Gallery
One Delisle Condos
One Delisle Condos is a Toronto mixed-use development by Slate Asset Management. The condo will have 383 residential units and is 47 stories tall. The residential tower’s location considers sustainable city growth through height to meet the urban challenges of the neighborhood. Spatially, Toronto has seen a dramatic expansion in density projects to benefit the city, and projects like One Delisle complement the city’s requirements.
Considering other projects in the city, this new tower is “dialed-in” to the lifestyle and climate of Canada’s most populated city. Toronto. The project renderings outline distinctive facades, made of eight-story elements, which nest together in a rhythmic pattern as they spiral up.
Balconies – Outdoor Protected Space
On close-up, you’ll notice balconies neatly integrated within the elemental design, providing generous terrace space. Noting the careful attention to detail, they lean out for sun-shading and wind protection and allow the use of balconies and terraces into the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn in Toronto.
The generous outdoor space spirals up as a 16-sided circular tower. As noted, the outdoor spaces (terraces, balconies) are protected with solid, privacy walls. Each terrace suite has water connections and its own BBQ hookup, allowing residents to enjoy well into shoulder seasons. The units are fitted with premium sliding doors, creating the perfect unity and connection between indoor and outdoor environments like Palm Springs mid-century architecture.
The alternating, angled geometric patterns help support a range of floor plans, offering uniqueness and design freedom to units, due to various sizing. Like other projects we’ve seen, this residential diversity ensures living options, at a human scale for a mixed-use neighborhood.
The Wine Lounge
One Delisle delivers coveted amenities that can be life’s simpler pleasures. The world of wine. The wine and cocktail lounge is a sanctuary for contemporary and midcentury modern design lovers. The fusion of ceiling-height windows draws in natural light, providing shadow and density to beautifully patterned flooring. The mix of walnut-colored wood finishes, dark grey marble, light auburn modern furniture, and glass-framed accents around the bar make this lounge a place of indulgence; especially, oenophiles seeking the next wine pairing taste test.
Studio Gang developed the inviting, custom interior design that helps you re-imagine what elegant, playful enjoyment can feel like.
The Spa – Zen Experience Refined
The Studio Gang has mastered the art of picture-perfect indoor-outdoor experiences. The spa is a mirage of picturesque perfection. The beautifully refined interior design embraces environmental visual cues that remind residents of the calm from surrounding natural landscapes, with nearby ravines.
The building’s dynamic architecture allows for generous outdoor spaces and this spa sequence is an appreciation to contemporary and Japanese zen minimalism that floods your senses with elements of nature, natural light, simple clean design, and delicate indoor lighting.
Kitchen Vignette
The kitchen is another testament to contemporary minimalism, providing clear views of kitchen elements, center island, and natural light which floods the interior space. Refined internal lighting systems above the center island, while functionally applicable, are more ornamental for this environment. Modern-finish, contemporary chairs near the kitchen island, and the dining table on the balcony mirror the clean styling finishes of the entire space.
Key Advantages
Situated in midtown Toronto, this always vibrant area has benefited from major redevelopment projects for added density. Access to local amenities, nightlife, transit, bank, or pharmacy is within walking distance.
Midtown Toronto has plenty of green space but One Delisle residents will enjoy nearby parks, scenic trails, ravines, and a reservoir. The development is seeking to achieve a Toronto Green Standard Tier 2 in sustainability.
Toronto Green Standard: Sustainable Design Requirements
The Toronto Green Standard is Toronto’s sustainable design requirements for new private and City-owned developments. Delisle Condos is seeking Tier 1 which is required through the planning approval process. The City also has Tiers 2 through 4, which are higher-level voluntary standards that come with financial incentives and verification post-construction.
Toronto’s environment priorities are addressed by these standards to:
- Improve air quality
- Reduce the urban heat island effect, which environmental groups in Toronto say is a social justice issue because of the direct overlay of poor areas with hot areas.
- Scientists began to first notice the effect when cities were first industrialized
- By formal recommendation of Toronto Public Health, the city’s Urban Forestry team started using heat vulnerability maps to forecast where to plant new trees
- Toronto estimates heat contributes to an average 120 premature deaths annually
- Reduce energy use
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions for new buildings
- Enhance building resiliency to power disruption, encouraging the use of renewable and district energy sources
- Reduce stormwater runoff and potable water consumption
- Improve quality of storm water draining to Lake Ontario
- Enhance and protect ecological functions
- Integrate landscapes and habits
- Decrease bird collision and death related to large buildings
- Divert construction waste from going to landfill sites
The Location: Perfect for Families
People think condos are for empty nesters and young, urban dwellers. This is changing as building design becomes more flexible to unit sizing and variability to support families. Toronto’s growth is hitting against building permit delays and supply challenges. Building projects are not vertical to increased density and are open for residents.
One Delisle is perfect for young and growing families because of its walking-distance access to amenities, transit infrastructure, green spaces, and trails to walk children and pets. The midtown Toronto location is also known for a plethora of education and extracurricular options for children of all ages. Located nearby, residents will find well-regarded public schools and leading private schools such as the York School, Havergal College, the Linden School, Montessori, the famous Upper Canada College, Bishop Strachan School — all accessible within minutes.
A High-Reputation Developer: Slate Asset Management
Founded in 2005, Slate Asset Management is a global investment and asset manager that invests in real estate, successfully expanding its footprint to Europe and across North America.
Their secret sauce is a desire to do things differently, re-imagining the value and potential of opportunities, whether markets or properties, that many might overlook. Through this bold vision, they create long-term value for investors and partners, creating value and sustainable hoes and properties, by using investor capital as like it from your own family.
Slate has invested significantly into this Toronto midtown location at Yonge and St. Clair since 2013. Its portfolio in the area includes 10 high-quality assets on all four corners of this intersection. In spatial terms, this represents 1.25 million square feet or more than sixty percent of the office inventory in the area. Not only this, they have invested in retail, public art, office buildings, and the public realm, which are publicly-owned spaces that are owned and accessible to everyone.
Much to congratulate here. Slate had the confidence to pursue this long-term vision and boldly commit rebuilding an already vibrant part of Toronto, to something that will support many more residents while benefiting the overall community well into the future.
Project Details
| PROJECT TEAM | |
| DEVELOPER | Slate Asset Management |
| DESIGN ARCHITECT, INTERIOR DESIGN | Studio Gang |
| ARCHITECT OF RECORD | WZMH Architects |
| LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT | Janet Rosen and Studio |
| FEATURES AND FINISHES | Mason Studio |
| STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS | MKA and Stephenson Engineering |
| CREATIVE AGENCY | Vanderbrand |
| LIVING | 47-story residential building located at 1 Delisle Ave; retail on the ground floor. The 383 residences are divided into three enviable tranches, with destination control in the elevators: City Collection: Floors 5 to 29 Sky Collection: Floors 30 to 43 Penthouse Collection: Floors 44-47 |
| AMENITIES | 24-hour concierge Porte cochère Chef’s kitchen and dining room Wine and cocktail lounge Fitness center Wellness center – Eucalyptus room, dry sauna, salt room, and private terraces PowerPoint Presentation Ravine amenity terrace Kid’s room Co-working areas Lobby lounge with fireplace Smart home community Parcel lockers Pet wash |
| TRANSIT ACCESS Conveniently located at the intersection of the subway and streetcar lines. | 15 minutes to Union Station, via TTC Subway 15 minutes to Bathurst St., via TTC Streetcar 10 minutes to Highway 401 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES | Grocery, retail, restaurants, under 5-min. walk Medical offices, pharmacies, 5-to-10-min. walk Ravines and walking trails, 5-to-10-min. walk Fitness studios, member’s clubs, 10-min. walk Public and private schools, 20-min. walk |
Jeanne Gang – The Architect
Jeanne Gang was the only architect named in TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People for 2019. She was chosen and highlighted by Anna Deavere Smith, an actress, playwright, and professor. Ms. Gang has won other awards such as the 2013 National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and the 2016 Architizer A+ Firm of the Year Award.
Jeanne Gang is a:
- MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellow
- Harvard Professor in Practice
- Honorary Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Jeanne founded Studio Gang in her native Illinois in 1997. She has been involved in many projects that use critical thinking in building design. From humble beginnings playing in the dirt and making ice castles, this Harvard-educated designer continues the lineage of architects from Chicago that invented the skyscraper, and now define buildings worldwide and across the American landscape.
Jeanne impresses us, as she has drawn insight from ecological systems, to create striking places of experience that bond and connect people to their communities, amongst themselves and the environment.
Did you know that the Aqua, in Chicago, is the tallest building ever built by a woman? Ms. Gang plans to build a taller one. You may think this is a “size does matter” argument. Nope. Jeanne looks at design and architecture as a means to change the environment.
Current events seem to suggest a fragmentation between citizens and police. Every effort must be made to re-establish trust for law enforcement in society; especially, in marginalized communities. Jeanne has proposed a communal re-framing for law enforcement that considers police stations as a place for social connection and services. Called the Polis Station, it follows a holistic, community-centered approach for public safety. Under the bold concept, the police stations are actually fused to civic recreational centers and the idea was tested in one of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods. A basketball court was added to the 10th District police station in North Lawndale, proving to be so successful, the facility will be expanded.
Ms. Gang was behind the WMS Boathouse project, located at Clark Park, which became the home of the Chicago Rowing Foundation. Chicago launched a city-funded regeneration effort, with four boathouses part of the effort, with this and one other designed by Studio Gang. Aside from filtering runoff water organically from the polluted Chicago River, the building structure provides for a publicly accessible riverfront, reviving community recreation.
She has warned peers with bold remarks against their profession:
...to avoid "Sorting ourselves into architects of the rich and architects of the poor" and to focus on"discovering new possibilities for the discipline and beyond"
-- JEANNE GANG
Weston Walker – Design Principal
Jeanne Gang had additional support from Weston Walker, a Design Principal and the Partner in charge of Studio Gang’s New York office. At this office, he leads a talented team of architects and a diverse portfolio of projects. Weston’s work spans many different types and scales, including cultural institutions, universities, civic buildings, and towers. His current projects include a major expansion of the American Museum of Natural History; Harvard University’s new Enterprise Research Campus in Allston, Massachusetts; and One Delisle, the studio’s first project in Canada. His recently completed projects include a new training facility for FDNY’s Rescue Company 2 and 40 Tenth Avenue in New York’s Meatpacking District.
Hey One Delisle….Tonight, You Look So Pretty to Me!
Now you know why we opened this article with this line. It reminded me of this classic song, “Hey There Delilah”. We hope you like it as much as we do!
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I am a swashbuckling, mind-reading, techno-czar. Ok, leave out everything except “techno”. That might suggest the music genre but it’s really my technology background. My last studies were in Syracuse, and it was all about advertising. However, my career has been as diverse as the charcuterie board. We’re talking dot-com (actually, dot-bomb, lol), digital advertising before people understood “online”, payments before people understood what a “digital wallet” was, and online/digital games. This expanded to mobile marketing, mobile swiss cheese (edit: scratch that), and more. I ran operations for a digital financial portal, and found ways to sell things before they were mainstream. Today, I am Editor in Chief of one of the interwebs’ fastest growing home and architecture sites. For the big picture, visit our About Us page.
