Developer hopes building will stand the test of time
Gairdner says. “I have an attraction to esthetically pleasing things. I would have no interest if these buildings became commodities. Good design helps to brand buildings and make them stand out.”
It also results in premium prices for resale units and those units are more sought-after than other condos in the same markets, he adds. “People understand the focus on details. We want to continue the trend of finding desirable neighbourhoods we know intimately and designing tasteful buildings where people want to live, work and play.”
Gairdner says he is outspoken about the design he is aiming to achieve and it’s about striking a balance between giving the architect autonomy yet staying true to his vision. He and Rolleston have a long working relationship. “What brings us together is a shared sense of what good design is and we having a meeting of the minds.”
Rolleston says as Gairdner kept assembling land along Bayview and the site kept getting longer, they thought about cities in Europe — such as Barcelona and London — that have long blocks of buildings with a similar façade. “That doesn’t mean they aren’t interesting, but they are quiet and calm and you appreciate them as you are walking and driving by,” she says.
There is a block of 10 heritage quadplexes across the street from the site and arched roads to the east. While Rolleston and Gairdner wanted something clean and community-facing, they were inspired by the heritage houses and wanted to use masonry with a lot of texture. The local community’s reaction was resoundingly positive.
“Bill’s projects are about craft and this will have hand-laid masonry done in an interesting way,” she says. “This one has an accordion feel and a rhythm along the length. There is interesting detail around window openings.”
The span of the project provided an opportunity to provide visual interest for a longer period, but the city wanted a significant break in the development, so it reads like two boutique brick buildings. The break has been achieved with a glass structure known as The Nest, a shared open space on each floor that connects both sides of the building and will serve as a community hub and co-working space.
“It’s an idea that Quadrangle’s innovation team had pre-COVID, and I have been trying to plant it in a few projects I was working on because I really believe in it,” says Rolleston. While a lot of condos have hotel-style lobbies, the goal of The Nest lobby is to make it feel like home when residents walk in and to provide spaces for interaction on each floor.
“Our main concern for promoting this idea was climate change and wondering what people can do if they are stuck in the building,” she said. “The Nest can be powered by a generator and is a place where people can hunker down and weather the storm, whether it’s COVID or environmental.”
With the LRT station across the street, Gairdner expects international and Canadian investors will buy some units, but Leaside Common will also provide opportunity for people looking for a home in Leaside that doesn’t cost $2 million to $3 million. (Units prices start in the $500,000s.)
Rolleston says she’s very proud of the building. “Working with Bill is always great. He pushed us to keep the architecture simpler and simpler, and have it more about the details. He pushes us to be more reductive which is opposite of the usual experience. His buildings win awards because people notice them.”
“It’s a very exciting time for Leaside,” says Gairdner. “My hope is this building will stand the test of time and will be something my children will be proud of.”