AlbertC
Superstar
Houselink and Mainstay Community Housing – Montgomery Sisam
www.montgomerysisam.com
Houselink and Mainstay Community Housing is Toronto’s largest non-profit supportive housing agency, and currently manages 58 residential locations and more than 1,050 units across the City of Toronto. This project is located in Etobicoke on a lot along the Queensway, within walking distance to the waterfront as well as the Humber River. The building’s main objectives are to provide residents with a sense of comfort, social integration, connection, privacy, and support. This is accomplished by creating an intimate entry and internal experience, carving a massing that harmonizes with the residential neighbourhood, ensuring that spaces connect with the outdoors, and designing for a supportive environment for vulnerable residents living with mental health conditions and accessibility issues.
The building accommodates 38 studio and 1-bedroom units, as well as administrative suites, laundry facilities, and a multi-purpose room with kitchenette to support food preparation programs. The ground floor provides a discrete entrance that leads to a generous fire-side lounge by the main elevators, offering residents a sense of security, social connection and community. The L-shaped footprint allows for a small protected rain garden at the rear, a space for gathering away from the busy main street. The courtyard is partially covered and is equipped with native species requiring minimal maintenance.
The building is clad in a light standing seam metal on the residential floors, while the ground floor is clad in tonal charcoal architectural block with a warm wood soffit at the main entrance. While the architectural volumes are simple, the building expression is given character with rhythmically placed square windows.
Current view of the site: