A new park is among the green highlights of a condo project that will grow from a former parking lot in north Toronto’s Wilson Heights neighbourhood.

Tretti Condos, a 13-storey, 340-suite building with quick transit access — Wilson subway station is a block away — will include an adjacent park with plans for more than 100 trees to shade the site and outdoor courtyards.

Builder Maurice Wager, president of Collecdev, and Raymond Chow, principal at architecture firm gh3*, see the project as an opportunity to build a community where residents can connect with outdoors. The development, at 30 Tippett Rd., will be one of the first to transform the area along Wilson Ave. east of the Allen Expressway.

“Toronto is becoming a more urban, dense city,” says Chow.

“There is a need for simplicity and an edited lifestyle. It’s nice to come back to a place with space to breathe where you can detach,” Chow says, in reference to the project’s Scandinavian-lifestyle inspiration.

“Creating a network of open, outdoor spaces is a key to creating a vibrant community.”

As well, Collecdev’s commitment to environmental stewardship will manifest in Tretti Condos’ focus on sustainable features within the project.

“You can do great things by building a well-designed community, but you need to consider both the macro- and micro-levels,” Wager says. For example, he notes, “you can reduce the amount of commuting required by the ability to provide for all of the residents’ needs within the community so they don’t have to drive everywhere.

“We want this to be a true mixed-use development with community facilities, green space and retail,” adds Wager of the neighbourhood that also includes Downsview Park.

The building will operate with a geothermal heating/cooling system estimated to use about 40 per cent less energy than the traditional HVAC system, including saving more than five million litres of water a year and cut greenhouse gas production by about 70 per cent.

Maurice Wager, left, of Collecdev, and Raymond Chow with gh3* Architects in Tretti Condos model kitchen with modern finishes and energy-efficient appliances. (Moe Doiron/ Toronto Star)

Also planned are green roofs to help improve stormwater management and irrigate the site. As well, water will be filtered through a permeable paving system and collected in a cistern for re-use in landscaping. Windows in the building will have bird-friendly glazing and low-reflection glass to prevent collisions.

Exterior lighting will be downward facing to be night-sky friendly and minimize the impact on the community. Indoor lighting will feature light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs to save energy; common spaces will have motion-sensor lighting to save electricity.

Bicycle use will be encouraged with bike storage rooms and parking spaces. Tretti Condos will, as well, have charging capabilities for electric cars and dedicated parking spots for car-sharing services.

The design profile of the building itself takes into account its place, situated above the Allen Expressway. “We’ve paid a lot of attention to the outline, because people will get a lot of long-distance views of the building,” says Chow.

Condominium suites have been designed to maximize natural light. “It was a bit of a challenge,” says Chow. “Every room had to have a window, because it’s important to have access to light.”

Suites, ranging from the mid-$400,000s to the mid-$700,000s, will be one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts, as well as two- and three-bedroom-plus-den options. Appliances will have Energy-Star rating and use 30 per cent less energy than standard appliances. There will be low-flow toilets and efficient water fixtures, as well as programmable thermostats.

Young families’ lifestyles have been considered, with plans for an indoor children’s play area and a dedicated outdoor kids’ space. Tretti Condos will include a fitness studio, a co-working space and rooftop terrace entertaining area. And, for the furry family members, a pet-wash station is included in the plans.

“We’ve taken a sophisticated approach to creating community through thinking about how spaces are used and designing accordingly,” Wager says.

Tretti Condos
Location: 30 Tippet Rd., Toronto
Developer: Collecdev
Architect: gh3* architects. Interior Designer: esQape design Inc.
Building: 13 floors, 340 suites
Suites: From 417-sq.-ft. to 832-sq.-ft. One-bedroom, two-bedrooms, two-bedroom-plus-den, three bedrooms, three-bedrooms-plus-den. Starting at the mid-$400,000s.
Design Features: Rooftop patio, a range of energy efficienct features, co-working space, adjacent parkland
Tentative Occupancy: August 2021

Contact:
collecdevmarkee.com/developments/tretti-condos, 416-640-6000
email info@collecdevmarkee.com, sales centre at 530 Wilson Ave.

source: Toronto Star