Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1506758
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 69 Parkway Lofts – Brock University R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y C A M P US SU I T E S PARKWAY LOFTS – BROCK UNIVERSITY by ROBIN BRUNET P arkway Lofts is currently being marketed as delivering the best location, amenities, and stylish apartments to elevate the students' experience – and that's pre- cisely what development partners Campus Suites and Woodbourne aimed for in creating the three build- ing, 543-bed facility beside Brock University in Thorold, Ontario. Parkway Lofts more than lives up to Campus Suites' recognition that innovative housing is the most effec- tive means of fostering a sense of community among students. The six-storey buildings offer a host of dif- ferent fully-furnished suite types, with social lounges, laundry, and study rooms on every floor. There is also instant access to a commu- nal kitchen, large lounge and games room, and a resort-quality gym. The buildings achieve the dual benefits of being modern in appear- ance (clean rectangular forms with generous-sized uniform glazing and façade detailing) yet inviting thanks to ground level activity of retail services and amenities, wide walkways with tables and benches, and abundant landscaping. Inside, the living units and com- mon spaces exhibit clean lines and are filled with natural light. The predomi- nant colour is white with splashes of bold reds, teals, and blues used for areas such as kitchen backsplashes. Ian Husted, VP, investments at Woodbourne, says, "In 2018 we acquired a property with nine build- ings that had been developed to the east and plenty of space to the west for Parkway. The original design was for six buildings, but when we partnered with Campus Suites we phased the project to cater more to student needs." In 2020 the partners retained Architects + Research + Knowledge (ARK) to undertake the redesign, emphasizing east-west connectiv- ity to components such as the Brock campus, business park, a park, and a new recreation facility. Christophe Gauthier, partner, ARK, says, "Work began with stud- ies to determine how many beds we could incorporate. Also, early on it was decided there would be sunny public spaces between the buildings. The colour scheme of the exteriors would alternate between light and dark to create a checkerboard effect." The design of the interior "was to create different layers," Gauthier says. "When you enter in the middle of each building you will encounter study areas, followed by fitness areas and lounge depending on the build- ing – the cumulative effect being that of a sophisticated urban facility." As for the creation of redundancy for items such as in-suite kitchenettes and common kitchens, Gauthier says, "it was a priority to create a balance of private spaces and public spaces to enhance the livability of Parkway." As for energy efficiency, Gauthier says, "the three buildings per- form 28.3 percent better than the National Energy Code due to com- ponents such as heat pumps and especially envelopes with insulation LOCATION 3451 Schmon Parkway, Thorold, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER Campus Suites / Woodbourne ARCHITECT Architects + Research + Knowledge Inc. (ARK) GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Buttcon Construction STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Quinn Dressel Associates MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Quasar Consulting Group L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Quinn Design Associates Inc. CIVIL CONSULTANT Hallex Engineering Ltd. TOTAL COST Undisclosed