It took six years but Junction House was finally completed in 2023, a project that can trace its history back to 2017.
Located and named after the Toronto neighbourhood known as The Junction, the 151-home boutique condominium is the winner of the CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year, as judged by a local team of real estate professionals familiar with the market.
The nine-story, 144,000-square-foot condominium at 2720 Dundas St. W is named after a neighbourhood that was once a major railway town that sat at the intersection of four railway lines, prominent trails and trade routes.
Developer Slate Asset Management sought to blend the old with the new by providing elevated urban homes and implementing innovative initiatives that would contribute to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Junction House was designed in partnership with Toronto-based architect Superkül, keeping in mind the key principles of Canadian minimalism. The first five stories were designed to feature a rich red brick façade, a direct nod to the foundational elements of the neighbourhood's century-old architecture while white aluminum panels encapsulated the uppermost floors.
As a creative solution to a third underground parking level, Slate and Superkül incorporated 19 two-story parking stacks into two levels, saving over $1 million in construction costs.
The inside of the building offers various suite types and sizes. One of the most innovative characteristics of Junction House is its House Collection — 22 spacious two-story suites and laneway houses on the building's upper floors.
The House Collection was designed to combine the feel of living in a low-rise home with the benefits of living in a boutique condominium, providing a design-forward alternative to both low-rise detached homes and high-rise living.
To enhance the building's sustainability, Slate and Superkül provided each suite with energy recovery ventilators to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy demands, programmable thermostats, energy-efficient appliances and electrical provision for future electric vehicle charging in select parking spaces. The building was also designed with a water-retaining green roof.
Slate also conceptualized an iconic 50-foot LED placemaking sign that reads 'Junction' to sit atop the building, highlighting the project's name and its strategic location at the gateway of The Junction neighbourhood.
The developer first submitted an application to the city of Toronto for Junction House in 2017. After two years in the city's approval process, Junction House officially broke ground in 2019.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, and Slate was faced with a new set of challenges. Supply chain delays took hold, and construction labour and material costs skyrocketed as much as 50%, challenging the project's feasibility.
A shared coworking space connected to the lobby was one of the critical amenities planned for Junction House from the outset but the city of Toronto does not favour the classification of amenity space within a building's lobby area.
With the pandemic catalyzing a massive shift toward hybrid work, Slate decided to realize this vision for a functional, adaptable workspace for residents. With Superkül, the Slate team made the grade-related adjustments, raising the co-working space a few steps higher than the lobby to allow for the construction of the space.
Slate also had to navigate several environmental contamination issues on site, which required ongoing monitoring and remediation.
The team worked for over four years to implement below-grade risk management measures due to soil and groundwater contamination while also working to secure environmental approvals from the ministry to ensure a safe and healthy environment for residents.
High water levels due to below-grade creeks in the area required a raft slab foundation and a full watertight underground garage, which came at a significant premium to the overall project budget.
About the Project: With direct access to Pearson International Airport and Union Station via the UP Express, Junction House connects residents, business owners, and the local community to the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. It also benefits from other transportation options, all easily accessible within 10 minutes by foot, including bike paths, bus stations, streetcars, the subway, and GO Transit services.
The project has become a catalyst for business and development in the area. Two new residential projects are already under construction nearby. The project team also included over 5,100 square feet of retail space, activating the building's street level to connect residents and the community and effectively extending The Junction's retail node east of Keele Street.
What the Judges Said: "Simple, elegant design. Well-designed building and interior spaces. A good example of smart density on a formerly contaminated site. Great use of material," said Carlo Bonanni, senior vice president of planning and design at CreateTO.
They Made It Happen: Brandon Donnelly, managing director of development of Slate Asset Management, the developer of the project. The architect was Superkül, led by partner Andre D'Elia. Adam Yang of Goldview Property Management Ltd. is the condo manager. Louis Steyl is the project manager at Multiplex.