Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1211841
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 | 41 Bronte Village R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E SY Q UA D R A N G L E A RC H I T EC T S BRONTE VILLAGE by NATALIE BRUCKNER I f you have visited Bronte Village in Oakville, Ontario recently you will notice the area is undergoing a significant and rather impressive transformation. What was once home to the 1970s- era Bronte Village Mall is quickly transitioning into a vibrant mixed- use centre consisting of retail and residential spaces. With its variation of building heights and massing, the redevelopment not only respects the surrounding residential neighbour- hoods but upholds the much-loved Bronte character, while revitalizing the area as a whole. Two luxury rental residential towers (10 and 14 storeys) are under construc- tion on the site, and will add up to 480 suites, with 600 underground park- ing spaces and 13,500 square feet of new complementary retail space. A 30,000-square-foot Sobeys is also on site, along with a newly renovated 10,000-square-foot Rexall. When Crombie REIT (Crombie) acquired the property in mid-2016, the team was faced with an inter- esting task, as Trevor Lee, SVP of Construction and Development explains: "Re-zoning of the site was completed by the previous property owner back in 2012. Crombie com- pleted the Site Plan Approvals and solved tenant lease term constraints so we could proceed with the project. Discussions with the City on a new development vision for the site began in early 2017." In 2018, Crombie reached a part- nership agreement with Prince Developments Inc. (PrinceDev) to develop both Bronte Village in Oakville and Le Duke in Montreal, with PrinceDev acting as development manager for both properties. Very soon after, work began. "In May 2018, demolition of the '70s mall began. Then we started excava- tion and shoring work in November 2018," explains Elden Forskin, proj- ect manager at Reliance Construction Toronto Inc. "Laydown was quite straight forward as we had a large footprint to work with and we have the right of way for our trucks. We are currently topping off the 14th floor and are pouring the mechanical penthouse on building A, and we are currently on level 5 of building B. We are ahead of schedule." For the design of the site, Crombie and PrinceDev saw an opportunity to create a unique luxury rental com- munity by demolishing the existing enclosed mall and moving Rexall into a new larger format premise. "Crombie and PrinceDev envisioned a new development rooted in the neigh- bourhood offering a range of unit types and sizes to attract a broad range of the market, as well as first rate ame- nities comparable to those found in the nearby prestigious condominium developments. The design is unabash- edly contemporary, with flourishes that will establish the new commu- nity as both an anchor and landmark," explains Ken Brooks, senior associate at Quadrangle. The two residential blocks have been organized as interlocking L-shaped buildings forming an entry courtyard and outdoor amenity space accessed through an entry por- tal located at the project's principle address on Bronte Road. "A tower ele- ment at the southwest corner of the residence fronting on Bronte Road creates a landmark lantern condi- tion adjacent to an existing parkette, which visually links the residences to the main Bronte Village intersection at Lakeshore Boulevard and Bronte Road," explains Brooks. A pedestrian scaled four-storey building podium, clad in white pre- cast concrete, runs along Bronte Road and connects to this corner tower ele- ment. "Street level retail spaces have been integrated into this podium to animate the street frontage and offer services and amenities to the commu- nity. The massing of the residential portion above the podium is broken into several smaller scaled elements clad in dark grey brick and white pre- cast concrete, with a recessed portion marking the two-storey main entry portal at grade," adds Brooks. The residential buildings facing Sovereign Street have a smaller scaled composition of building elements that step down towards the street. "This is in response to the existing single detached and townhouse residences located along the north side of the street. A series of landscaped court- yards also help to soften the visual impact of the new residences along this frontage. The western landscaped courtyard connects the main build- ing entry to Sovereign Street as well as providing terrace space for the resi- dential pool and gym amenity spaces. The eastern landscaped courtyard creates a community parkette and a mid-block pedestrian route that leads south to Lakeshore Boulevard, where we've created a new multi-purpose civic plaza called Market Square." A tall colonnade with retail front- age defines the northern edge of Market Square. This public plaza has been designed as an important community asset with plans to host seasonal and special events. Inside the buildings the team worked closely together to create what will be a distinctive and comfortable home for new residents joining the Bronte Harbour community. "The finishes are extremely high- end and the views from the suites are amazing. You have views of the lake and downtown Toronto, as well as the Niagara Escarpment," says Forskin. Lee adds that spacious balconies help provide unobstructed views and offer outdoor living. Up on the fifth-floor of the south- ern building there are amenity spaces, which are adjacent to a rooftop terrace that has great sun exposure and also views to the lake. The interior's contemporary design is achieved through the use of natural woods and stones with brass detailing, as well as large-scale graphic florals. "Furniture is comfortable with soft lines where possible and colours are neutral. The inclusion of guest suites and private dining rooms for entertain- ing in the amenities makes this rental development very flexible and livable. Fitness is addressed through gyms, a pool, and a sauna," says Brooks. A project of this size of course comes with its challenges, especially when two buildings are being erected simultaneously, but Forskin says that thanks to a great team they have man- aged to retain a great pace. With completion due for Spring 2021, Crombie REIT, PrinceDev, and the entire team can be extremely sat- isfied knowing they are fulfilling a commitment to being an engaged part of the community in which they're located. "We are proud to be bringing a transformative mixed-use luxury rental project to the community of Bronte Village. Our belief is in build- ing high-quality, sustainable real estate that enhances communities for the long term. It is our hope that this project sets a high standard for qual- ity within the Livable Oakville Plan, which becomes a catalyst for future growth and vitality in the area," says Lee. A LOCATION 2441 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario OWNER Crombie REIT / Prince Developments Inc. (PrinceDev) ARCHITECT Quadrangle Architects GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Reliance Construction Toronto Inc. STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT WSP Canada MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Smith & Andersen CIVIL CONSULTANT C.F. Crozier & Associates L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT MHBC TOTAL COST $275 million (approx.) 3:59 PM 10:25 AM