Luxe lofts dropped in the middle of a downtown warehouse district may seem counterintuitive – but perhaps that’s part of their appeal. The modern condominium building at 500 Wellington St. W. was recently recognized as Toronto’s favourite new residential building at this year’s Pug Awards.

The Pug Awards, perhaps better known as the People’s Choice Awards for Architecture, were founded by Anna Simone, principal of Cecconi Simone Inc., and Gary Berman, president of Tricon Capital Group. As their name implies, the awards are meant to empower “the people” to recognize their favourite new buildings completed in the previous calendar year.

The overarching goal is to encourage and promote good design. To be eligible, buildings must located in Toronto, and occupy at least 50,000 square feet. If this year’s results are any indication, mid-rise buildings are the most inspired when it comes to residential design.

For the first time in nine years, a residential building outpaced all commercial and institutional buildings in the number of positive votes cast. (While the intent of the awards is to celebrate the best in architecture, voters also have the option to ‘like’ and ‘dislike’ entries.)

“This marks a significant milestone in Toronto’s building boom,” says awards co-founder, Berman. “The building community should pay close attention to 500 Wellington St. W., as voters’ overwhelming approval surely offers lessons for what the public believes is desirable architecture for a condominium building.”

Developed and designed by Freed Developments and Core Architects Inc., respectively, charcoal brick, black zinc accent bands, Ipe soffits and frameless tempered glass were combined to create an asymmetrical façade that is meant to blend in with the surrounding warehouse district. With 17 half and full floor suites that open out onto personal cabana terraces, the luxe lofts embody the brand of boutique King West neighbourhood development for which real estate giant Peter Freed is known.

Charles Gane, project architect and principal of Core Architects, was pleased to have the public recognize the property.

“I’m glad it had an appeal to everybody,” he says. “Our general public here in Toronto – condo people – are quite sophisticated.”

The design was influenced in large measure by the generous balconies, or rather terraces, required for such an exclusive residence, adds Gane.

“(The building) uses nice materials and was done the way we’d like to do every condo but never can (due to) budgetary constraints,” he says.

But that’s not to say it was all about the money, as the more standard condominium Core Architects designed for Freed Developments on King Street West picked up second place at the Pug Awards.

Six 50 King West is a Jenga-inspired building that echoes the design of 500 Wellington West, but is constructed of less expensive materials.

Core Architects is also behind Seventy5 Portland, which was named the top residential building at the 2011 Pug Awards.

As for projects that might enter the contest next year, Gane is most excited about Fashion House on King Street West, a 12-storey development that features ultra-mod stacked cubes, with the former building’s façade wrapped around them.

Capturing third place at this year’s awards was Parc Loft Residences on the Park, a mid-rise condo project located east of Liberty Village and delivered by architectsAlliance, Lamb Development Corp., Niche Development and Harhay Construction Management Ltd. The condo serves as a transition piece between the neighbouring industrial and commercial/residential uses, with angular, glazed, zigzagging balconies carving out its defining features.

Other popular projects within the residential building category included the Flatiron Lofts, Work Lofts, Burano Condominiums, Victory Condos on King Street West and the Paintbox Condominiums.

While mid-rise condos fared well this year, many highrise condos, especially thoses in the suburbs, were dogged by unfavourable reviews. Twenty-two of 29 residential entries attracted negative scores from voters.

Michelle Ervin is the editor of CondoBusiness magazine.