Architecture & Design
Anticipating the needs of aging condo communities
New updates to the OBC, which come into effect January 1, 2025, do little to address accessibility. How can existing condos prioritize inclusion when planning for renovations?
Future Cities Institute aspires for breakthroughs
The institute aims to tackle the systemic drivers of housing-related affordability and innovate across sectors.
Condos viewed as viable long-term housing option
A recent survey, commissioned by Toronto developer Devron, shows that 47% of Torontonians believe condos are viable long-term housing option.
The intricacies of EV infrastructure remain at odds with condo legislation
The electric vehicle landscape is complex, ever-changing and at the cutting edge of technology. For condominium corporations and their owners, this means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Addressing hidden damages in condominiums
Condo managers who understand a condo’s life stages, hidden damages, and inspections are more likely to develop effective reserve fund plans with logical budget allotments.
Shaping Toronto’s skyline
While improvements in construction technology, metallurgy and resource management have helped developers to build high-rises at more feasible costs, the design process could be more closely considered.
Politics, red tape and the housing industry crisis
A timeline of legislation that shaped Ontario’s current supply and affordability issues.
WELL evolves into residential communities
Minto Communities is the first developer in Canada to pilot the WELL for residential program, which sets out to create healthier homes.
Tailoring amenities to evolving demographics
The types of amenities that were once popular in condos have changed.
A guide to understanding noise in condos
Resolving noise complaints requires an understanding of how sound moves through a building and the obligations of a condominium.
A new approach to mid-rise living in Etobicoke
A new spin on the concept of stacked townhomes is promised to boost missing middle housing typologies in the Greater Toronto Area.
Designing a successful private condo terrace
The first step is to have a landscape architect draft up a preliminary plan for the terrace or balcony renovation.
Housing and healthcare under one roof
n a city bereft of affordable housing and access to healthcare, two condo projects are setting out to combine these uses under one roof.
Tornado research uncovers risks for homeowners
Canada’s tornado risk is more widespread than once thought, according to a growing body of research that, for the first time, tracks the occurrence and aftermath facing property owners across the country.
‘Windows’ of opportunity for home retrofits
In low-rise homes, including condos, up to 35 per cent of heated air can be lost through the windows during the heating season.
The future of common area design
In the last couple years, the interior design space has witnessed a shift where lobbies were no longer valued as they were seen as unused spaces.
Existing condos: rising to modern standards
New regulations from multiple levels of government are forcing condominium boards and property management companies to consider more than just a simple cost-benefit calculation when examining repair and retrofit options.