These days many of us spend hours on social media, pinning, liking, sharing and saving post after post of Instagram-worthy interiors featuring, neutral palettes, active stone countertops, attractive blonde flooring and a variety of beautiful millwork kitchen cabinetry options. For residents at Nørdic, all that double-tapping is about to come to life. Later this Spring, décor selections will begin, and the savvy purchasers who have chosen Nørdic Condos as their new home will get the chance to design their dream space in just a few clicks.

Selecting finishes has always been one of the most exciting parts of the home buying process, but in the past, it’s generally involved an in-person trek to a design studio where you were tasked with choosing the entire palette for your new home in just a few hours. Always at the forefront of innovation and human-centred design, Collecdev asked, is there a better way to engineer this experience? We found the answer in The Interactive Abode.

The Interactive Abode is a Toronto-based, Canadian-built, online design tool. From its roots as a simple mix-and-match system, to the robust, intuitive, and fully operational online studio it is today, TIA has emerged as the top design software in North America. Here’s how it works:

1. Nørdic residents receive an email, inviting them to begin their décor selections online.
2. They log in to their account from a Mac/PC or tablet, anywhere with an internet connection, and virtually decorate their unit, mixing and matching flooring, cabinets, and countertops until they’ve got the perfect look.
3. Once selections are complete, they can save their designs, and virtually sign on the dotted line, OR they can book an in-person appointment at the Nørdic Décor Studio to check out their selections in real life.

“It’s the best of all worlds,” says Natascha Pieper, Collecdev’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “Every purchaser is unique, and TIA’s software, not only helps them create a home that reflects their particular lifestyle and personality, but it also offers a more convenient way to access décor selections. Our homeowners can design their suites on their own schedule, whenever and wherever is most convenient for them.”

In addition to the realistic images rendered via The Interactive Abode, Nørdic purchasers can see their vision brought to life in the spectacular Nørdic Décor Studio where they can view samples of colours and materials, as well as stunning kitchen and bathroom vignettes. Like the rest of the community, the finishes at Nørdic are Scandinavian-inspired, an expert mix of minimalist colour palettes and organic textures that create a refined, relaxed vibe. The captivating array of options have been meticulously curated by the team at Esqape Design to promote a sense of lightness and wellbeing. It’s Pinterest-inspiration brought to life, and an entirely new way to put the finishing touches on a new home.

The presentation may be live streamed instead of in real life, we may be gathering from across the continent instead of in a ballroom, and there may be less champagne, but when the Nationals go live with a virtual ceremony this Friday, March 5th, we’ll still be pulling out all the stops. That’s because both TRETTI and Nørdic are top contenders for the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Multifamily Community of the Year.

The Scandinavian-inspired communities captured the judges’ attention with their combination of contemporary architecture, thoughtfully-designed light-filled interiors, expertly-programmed amenities, and strong connection to the outdoors. Add in their prime, transit-connected location in the heart of Wilson Heights, and it’s easy to see why TRETTI and Nørdic are front runners for one of the Nationals most prominent awards.

For nearly 40 years, the Nationals have celebrated North America’s best new-home sales and marketing, identifying the industry’s most exceptional communities across Canada and the U.S. “To be recognized by the NAHB’s largest and most prestigious awards competition is truly an honour,” says Collecdev VP Sales and Marketing, Natascha Pieper, “it’s a testament that our commitment to building complete communities is setting new benchmarks for the industry. When we set out to design TRETTI and Nørdic, we envisioned thriving environments that encourage connection, not only among neighbours, family, and friends, but a connection to nature, because we know that these elements – well-designed environments, a sense of belonging, time spent outdoors – are essential to the wellbeing of a community and its residents.”

Throughout these challenging times we remain committed to moving forward, creating inviting, inspiring, more accessible communities for people to call home. With TRETTI and Nørdic among the distinguished group of nominees for Multifamily Community of the Year, it’s clear we’re headed in the right direction.

The 39th annual Nationals will take place with a virtual awards ceremony on March 5th.

Join us for the Virtual Awards Presentation by registering here

The early stages of construction are moving along at an impressive pace at the site of Collecdev’s newest contribution to the emerging pocket of density surrounding Wilson subway station in Toronto. The wheels have been in motion for the Nordic Condos project since this past summer, when demolition began to prep the site of the complex’s first phase, a 12-storey building designed by gh3. Roughly six months later, a large pit is forming as excavation advances for the project.

Demolition work continued into January, when the first heavy equipment arrived to begin actual construction activity. Drilling rigs were the first equipment to arrive, starting work on the site’s shoring system that prepped the site for the now-ongoing excavation. Moving from east to west, crews are digging to a depth of 9.9 metres to create space for the building’s foundations and underground garage. Pile and lagging shoring walls have been built around most edges of the pit, but the more water-resistant concrete caisson wall system is being used where groundwater has been found.

As the dig catches up at the site’s west end, additional heavy equipment has appeared within the pit, a continuation of the installation process for the site’s geothermal energy system. During the early demolition stages, geothermal wells were drilled around the previous buildings’ perimeters. With the former building footprints clear, geothermal drilling is now being done towards the site interior. Geothermal heating and cooling are expected to reduce Nordic’s carbon emissions by 70% and provide residents with predictable utility costs.

Excavation will be followed by the installation of cranes. Pending permits, the building is expected to begin its rise above street level later this year. Upon completion, Nordic will rise to a height of just over 41 metres, bringing 429 condominium and rental replacement units to the site.

Source: UrbanToronto