Have you heard? The NOW Magazine's Readers’ Choice Best of 2018 Awards have been announced and Collecdev has been honoured with a nomination for Best Condo Developer!

Now in their sixth year, the awards celebrate the crème de la crème of Toronto’s leaders, groups, and businesses - a show of support from city residents for the people, places, and enterprises they love best. We caught up with Collecdev’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Natascha Pieper, to hear the team’s reaction to the nomination.

How does it feel to be recognized as a Readers’ Choice nominee for Best Condo Developer?
We’re always honoured to be recognized, whether it’s by our industry peers, or by the city’s residents. We work hard to build better communities through transformative architecture, sustainable landscapes, and innovative design. This nomination from NOW Magazine’s readers feels like confirmation that the people of Toronto appreciate our efforts.

Why do you think people are taking notice? What sets Collecdev apart from other developers?
Collecdev is aiming to change the way we think about architecture and construction, shifting the conversation from a purely functional, short sighted approach, to designing buildings that become an integral and sustainable part of the communities in which they’re situated.

With every new project, our mission is to identify the greater community need - be it affordable housing, publicly accessible spaces, new infrastructure, family-focused product - and design a building that promotes a better quality of life.

I think it’s that commitment that people appreciate - they can see that we care about the future of Toronto and how our city will continue to grow in response to new provincial policies, the lack of housing supply, unprecedented price growth, and rising immigration. We’re always looking for ways to improve and to respond to the changing needs of our customers.

You did that with the recent #CollecdevCity campaign where you invited the people of Toronto to join the conversation about the future of housing development. How did people respond?
We received an incredible response. The #CollecdevCity campaign was all about seeking public input and incorporating the best ideas into our development plans. Collecdev wants to hear how people would like to see the city evolve, and people are interested in joining the conversation.

Today’s buyers are savvy. Traditional marketing tactics fall flat. What’s more productive is an open dialogue where we can interact with consumers and encourage community engagement. In today’s highly competitive landscape, that innovative and collaborative approach is what sets us apart.

We’ve seen that community is one of Collecdev’s core values. What are the essential ingredients for building a community that works?
Our goal with every building is to create not just a physical structure, but a highly functioning social structure too. That begins with the initial design, philosophy, concept, and narrative. It begins with architecture that encourages a relationship between people and nature, with thoughtful design that addresses the greater community need. We view responsible development as a collection of elements that includes, not only beautiful buildings, but connectivity, sustainability, transit, publicly accessible green space, and art as well.

Not all developers seem to take this approach to thoughtful community design. What responsibility do developers have in shaping the city?
The lack of housing supply in Toronto over the last decade has led to rapid development, some of which has taken place without the long-term consideration required to build sustainable communities. But, as developers, the projects we build become part of the city fabric and have a lasting impact on the environment, market growth, sustainability, and overall quality of life. We have to ask ourselves, is what we’re building improving everyday living for Toronto residents? And for any responsible developer, the answer has to be yes.

Click here to cast your vote for Collecdev as Toronto’s Best Condo Developer. Scroll down, click on “Shopping & Services,” then scroll to Best Condo Designer and select “VOTE”. Voting closes August 2nd so act fast!