Renderings are giving us our first taste of a 28-storey, Core Architects-designed residential tower that is set to rise in Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village. The condominium development at 81 Wellesley Street East was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) earlier this year, and developer Aragon Properties now has the presentation centre under construction onsite and will open its doors some time into the new year.

Rendering of 81 Wellesley Street East, image courtesy of Core Architects/Aragon Properties

The tower will rise from a six-storey, 20.7-metre-high podium structure, which will be clad in a dark brick. On the podium's north facade which fronts onto Wellesley, the brickwork will take the form of a lattice-like screen with balconies contained within. Both the height and cladding choice for the podium were carefully selected to create a relationship with the older masonry structures in the area, in particular the 1960s-era modernist apartment buildings found throughout the surrounding neighbourhood.

Rendering of podium at 81 Wellesley Street East, image courtesy of Core Architects/Aragon Properties

The building's base will also offer some major improvements to the existing public realm, with the addition of a forecourt stretching 7.5 metres south from the property line, and sheltered by a third-level overhang that will provide some weather protection for the space. The forecourt will feature finishes such as granite paving slabs, Ipe wood benches, an Ipe wood soffit overhang underside, and an illuminated water feature.

Rendering of public realm at 81 Wellesley Street East, image courtesy of Core Architects/Aragon Properties

The podium levels will be visually separated from the tower floor plates above by a two-storey glazed "spacer" floor occupying the 7th and 8th levels. While creating a visual distinction between the podium and tower floors, this part of the building will be home to the bulk of the residential amenity areas, both inside and out, while a separate lounge space will exist on the ground floor.

Rendering of amenity terrace at 81 Wellesley Street East, image courtesy of Core Architects/Aragon Properties

Above the double-height amenity level, levels 9 through 22 of the tower portion will be set back 5.5 metres from the east property line and 3.05 metres from the west property line. A large notch will exist on the west face of the tower to bring more light into the residential units, while a solid precast vertical section where the elevator core and stairwells will be located has been placed midway along the eastern property line.

Rendering of 81 Wellesley Street East, image courtesy of Core Architects/Aragon Properties

Above the 22nd floor, the form steps back to the north at level 27 and once again at the mechanical penthouse level—the impact of which will be minimized by additional 5.5 metre setbacks from the east and west property lines.

South elevation, 81 Wellesley Street East, image courtesy of Core Architects/Aragon Properties

Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.