If you don't recognize the former parking lot in one of the capital's newest apartment buildings, don't worry—the building will recognize you.
Facial recognition is just one adanced feature of the technology-first approach at The Lennox, at 90 Champagne Ave., selected as the winner of the 2024 CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year in Ottawa-Gatineau, as judged by a local team of real estate professionals familiar with the market.
The touchless entry from facial recognition is part of a smart app that allows for contactless entry and parcel lockers for automated parcel delivery.
Located in the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy, the 239-suite luxury building from District Realty broke ground in July of 2021, and began leasing units last October. Designed by Roderick Lahey Architects, the building aims for a balance between contemporary aesthetics and functionality.
The dual-tone building features pre-finished precast panels in light and dark grey or black, punctuated by punched windows on the front facade. Balconies at the end of the facade offer views of the surrounding neighbourhood.
Situated near Dow's Lake, Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the Dominion Arboretum, The Lennox offers city living with easy access to green spaces and the waterfront. The Ottawa Hospital's new campus, under construction blocks away, will create about 4,000 jobs upon completion in 2028.
The Lennox offers various floor plans, including studios, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, and two-bedroom suites. Each suite has in-unit laundry, quartz countertops, window coverings, and stainless-steel appliances.
The building's 9,700 square feet of amenity space, which comes with free Wi-Fi, includes a theatre with an 85-inch smart TV, six luxury recliners, and oversized cuddle chairs. The fitness center is state-of-the-art. The chef's kitchen boasts an eight-person dining table, a large island, a full-size fridge, stove, dishwasher, and two microwaves.
Outdoor spaces include a rooftop terrace with barbecues, an outdoor kitchen, private dining areas, lounge seating, and fire pits.
Environmentally friendly amenities comprise resident and bike storage and underground climate-controlled parking with electric charging stations.
About the Project: The Lennox is a rental apartment with 239 units that transformed a former parking lot into a high-rise building in the heart of Ottawa's Little Italy.
They Made It Happen: Cleland Jardine Engineering Ltd., Novatech Engineering Consultants Ltd., Annis O’Sullivan Vollebekk Ltd., FoTenn Consultants Inc., Pinchin, Kallala Design, Creative Friction and District Realty.