Award

FEBRUARY 2015 | 73 DNA3 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GRAZIANI + CORAZZA ARCHITECTS INC. DNA3  by LAURIE JONES W ith the recently opened 14-sto- rey, twin tower DNA3 project in Toronto, the King Street corridor development is now complete. Offering 605 units ranging from 270 to 1,000 square feet and amenities that rival the best club in town, it's no surprise the DNA3 towers sold out quickly. "This project took a significant amount of time to get through the approval process with both the City of Toronto and the Ontario Municipal Board," says Barry Graziani, principal, Graziani + Corazza Architects. "The main contentious issue was the height because everything in this area is between nine and 11 storeys. The only building that punctured that height restriction was, coincidently, the DNA1 project that we did about 10 years ago." The 14th floor penthouses offer spec- tacular views in all directions because the surrounding buildings are 10 sto- reys or less. "The DNA3 building ter- races at the 11th floor and continues up to the 14th, so all of the upper floors have clear views of the downtown cor- ridor to the east, the waterfront to the south, and even looking north there are unobstructed views," says Graziani. He notes the DNA3 building is totally different from anything in the area with a full glass exterior, balconies and sev- eral white boxes designed with fritted glazing and intermittently built into the structure. "Because we didn't want them to disappear after dark, these state-of-the-art boxes have LED lighting installed so at night, the building comes to life again." The metallic grey colour of the build- ing is a standout destination and land- mark. Creating a combination of retail and trendy living space, owner/devel- oper Canderel Residential Inc. invited name-brand corporations to be a part of the 19,000 square feet in this commu- nity. "We have TD [Canada Trust] bank, Loblaws and Sleep Country among some of the great tenants," says Kerry Steer, construction manager at Canderel. "The neighbourhood is urban and vibrant with a lot of nightlife and great res- taurants so it is a hip area of the city. The look of the building is spectacular because it has an industrial look bal- anced by soft tones. The businesses are at ground level, fronting on King Street, with the amenities sharing space on the ground and second floors. From levels four through 14, each has a unique floor plan, creating a dynamic approach to construction." Steer says the design of the building is phenomenal by the way it morphs from the fourth floor into the two tow- ers. "We have glass canopies on the ground floor that sit above the retail space. Almost every f loor is slightly different and for the residents there are terraces, five green roofs as well as beautifully landscaped areas where people can thoroughly relax, which helps with the overall appeal of living there," says Steer. "The second f loor terrace will be wonderful in the summertime because it encourages people to gather in the outdoor space. There are barbecue sta- tions where you can entertain while you're grilling, two fireplace stations and some semi-private areas. The mist- ing station is another nice feature for some relief when it's hot," adds Steer. From the second floor terrace, two large skylights brighten the lobby where the innovative design esthetic of Cecconi Simone creates an elegant environment. Accessible by both King Street and Shank Street, the lobby features a look that blends art and high fashion with a mixture of rich wood, sleek stone and leather, while beautiful sculptured gar- dens provide a hint of rugged elegance. For the final touch of upscale living, a concierge is on hand to assist residents with their needs. Another unique feature for resi- dents at DNA3 is the rain room that is designed in the spa area on the ground floor. "It is like walking in warm rain and the walls are designed with teak slats," says Graziani. The DNA3 wow factors continue with a fitness area housing top of the line equipment under a three-storey ceiling. "The amenity spaces were designed to bring people together," says Steer. "There are lounging areas, including several party rooms with a café kind of feel and the residents are actually using the facilities. You can see them stop and chat in the spaces as opposed to just walking through to get to their suites. It's a very social place already and with 605 suites, the foundation for a great community is already forming." The designs of the suites are well put together and take advantage of every square inch of the space. "The finishes in the suites are second to none," says Steer. "We have high-quality brands – the kitch- ens come from Italy and the finishes and appliances are all of European design." The podium structure of this devel- opment was critical because it fronts on to three streets – on the south, the east and the north. "On the west side we cre- ated the public walkway in the north- south direction so this building does not have a back area," says Graziani. "It was critical to design all those front- ages with use and with animation. Along King Street we have all retail that is split into two to access the lobby of the two towers. On Shaw Street, on the east side, there are street-related residen- tial units. On Shank Street, which is the north side, we have two-storey, loft style residential units." The DNA3 complex will have a mix of tenant demographics, but for the most part, people who enjoy an active lifestyle can take advantage of extra features such as the air pump in the bicycle storage area, the aerobics/yoga room and with a short ride on rapid transit, downtown Toronto awaits with theatre and other major entertainment options. When all is said and done, DNA3 is the perfect backdrop for a brilliant urban lifestyle. A LOCATION King Street Village, 1005 King Street, Toronto, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER Canderel Residential Inc. ARCHITECT Graziani + Corazza Architects Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Reliance Construction Group (Toronto) STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Able Engineering Inc LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Cosburn Nauboris Limited TOTAL AREA 462,845 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed

• Cover