The 21st-century condo: it’s all about luxe amenities and living out of the box
The first spade hits the ground on Oct. 18 as Phase 2 of the YUL Condominiums project gets underway. From the outside, the residential tower at the corner of René-Lévesque Blvd. and Lucien L’Allier St. will mirror the one adjacent: 38 storeys of unique and contemporary shift-block architecture rendered in gleaming silver glass. But it’s the unique new amenities found inside that will distinguish it from its sibling.
“Condo amenities have evolved because lifestyles have changed,” said Kheng Ly, president and CEO of Brivia Group, which heads the project with Tianco Group. “We’ve added features in keeping with the latest trends in luxury projects.”
It’s an approach that has led to YUL’s Phase 2 being named the top-selling condo project in downtown Montreal in a report issued in spring 2017 by Altus Group, a global real estate advisory and consultancy firm. When completed, the two-phase project will consist of more than 800 condos ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, in addition to two-storey penthouses and 17 townhouses.
Residents of the first tower, who started to take occupancy in summer 2017, enjoy exceptional and luxurious common areas furnished by Armani/Casa and located in the first phase of the project. Such amenities include private conference rooms, a café lounge looking out to the garden, and the Sky Lounge where residents and their guests can take in the 360-degree view of Montreal.
The new additions in Phase 2 will provide occupants with even more options. YUL Phase 2 will include a wellness centre to complement the fitness and well-being facilities located in Phase 1 such as the glassed-in, fully equipped gym facing Mackay St., 60-foot lap pool and outdoor four-season Scandinavian style water circuit. It’s all part of the latest trend in luxury living, from the Deepak Chopra-designed “wellness” highrise in Miami to New York City complexes that include rooftop meditation spaces. Much as gyms have become de rigueur in condo projects, residents increasingly desire a separate area dedicated to mindful movement practices. YUL’s 1,000-square-foot dedicated wellness centre will offer residents a private and adaptable space in which to pursue a healthy lifestyle, along with the outdoor terrace overlooking the garden.
YUL Phase 2 will also dedicate a garden-level space for private parties or events. There, residents and their guests will feel refreshed as they marvel at the project’s famous 23,000-square-foot private courtyard — the city’s largest. The event space is intended to let residents entertain outside of their units. It is designed in such a manner that it can be opened up for larger events like a big holiday bash, a wedding reception, or other special occasion. The space can be divided into several rooms, and each may be booked to host smaller gatherings. “We and the design team have made every effort to rival some of the most luxurious venues in town,” said Ly, “in terms of both convenience and design.”
Serious wine collectors often face a problem with space. Housing prized vintages, which may number in the tens of thousands of bottles, takes up square footage. There’s also the issue of proper storage: even though electric wine cellars equipped with modern technology exist, many connoisseurs consider subterranean space a better option. Catering to such demand, YUL Phase 2 will make private wine-cellar spaces available on one of the basement levels of the Phase 2 tower. Residents will be able to purchase one or more of these spaces to optimally house the collection of their dreams, all secured by advanced lock systems.
The two towers of the YUL Condominiums project will be linked by more than just resemblance in appearance; a three-storey skyway will join the buildings from the third to fifth floors. The skyway will feature two-level condos, each providing between 900 and 1,200 square feet of living space, proximity to the courtyard garden and south-facing views.
The new amenities will be in place by the time the second tower is completed in 2020. Together with the amenities in Phase 1, all residents of the YUL Condominiums project will benefit from the wide range of common areas available at their doorsteps, often without exiting their building. They will appreciate not only this convenience, but also the abundant natural light let in through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
“No one wants to ever feel confined to a box,” Ly said. “The new amenities will complement residents’ lifestyles and provide common areas to enjoy life with friends and family, and to get to know the neighbours.”
For more information, visit yulcentreville.com.