From the conceptual stages all the way to registration and move-ins, there are several steps along the way to marketing and building a new condominium development. These days, many—if not most—condominium presentation centres feature scale models of the planned development, giving potential purchasers a three-dimensional mock-up of a building that provides far more insight into the final product than a two-dimensional rendering. 

We recently took a trip to the Vaughan headquarters of Myles Burke Architectural Models, the company responsible for many of the scale models we encounter in our travels, for a glimpse at the painstaking work involved in building accurately detailed scale models. One of the many models being built at the time of our visit was that of Spice Urban Towns, a new project recently unveiled by the Hi-Rise Group and Spice Danforth Inc., coming to the Oakridge community in Scarborough.

Scale model of Spice Urban Towns being built at Myles Burke Architectural Models, image by Jack Landau

Installation of details on the exterior of the scale model is largely complete, and closely matches the aerial rendering currently being used to market the development. Almost all of the fine details shown in the rendering of the three-and-a-half-storey, Kohn Partnership Architects Inc.-designed development are represented in the scale model, from the ground-level flowers and greenery to the wood, charcoal brick, and precast exterior elements.

Scale model of Spice Urban Towns being built at Myles Burke Architectural Models, image by Jack Landau

The development will contain 116 one and two-storey units, which range in size from 749 to 1,012 square feet and start in price from the mid $300,000s. The scale model primarily showcases the building's exterior, though the unit interiors will also be visible through the model's windows. At the time of our visit, image inserts of kitchens and unit interiors were being placed against the walls of the model's units, while model staircases were awaiting installation.

Scale model of Spice Urban Towns being built at Myles Burke Architectural Models, image by Jack Landau

We look forward to seeing the completed scale model take centre stage at Spice Urban Towns' soon-to-open presentation centre at 3194 Danforth Avenue, just west of Pharmacy Avenue.

Rendering of Spice Urban Towns, image courtesy of Spice Danforth/Hi-Rise Group

Additional information 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.