Architectural details from a three-storey red brick heritage building that previously stood on the southeast corner of College and Huron streets in Downtown Toronto are now being replicated at a new condo development on the site. The three-storey former brick building's street facades are now being reproduced at the bottom of a new building called Design Haus from developer Shiu Pong. Work on the 18-storey, Kirkor Architects-designed tower kicked off in late 2017 with the demolition, and in just shy of two years later, the building has now risen to its final height. (Earlier this year, a single storey increase was approved above the previous 17-storey plan.)

Looking southeast to Design Haus, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

We last checked in on construction about 15 months ago, when forming was underway for the building's two-level underground garage. Its forming wrapped up in late 2018, with the ground floor fully formed by the start of 2019. Construction has progressed rapidly since the start of the year, with the building having topped out at the end of August. 

Heritage details at the base of Design Haus, image by Forum contributor Benito

Cladding now rises three quarters of the way up with building, with the tower's base being finished in precast brick panels meant to replicate the design of the previous three-storey structure that was cleared to make way for it. While replicated windows have not been installed here yet, a heritage detail that has appeared is a series of patterned terracotta reliefs below third storey windows.

Looking south to Design Haus, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Above, the tower levels are being finished in a window wall system that now stretches to the 13th floor, with spandrel glass with opaque silicone backings framed in a grid of grey mullions.

Additional information and images can be found in our Database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment below.

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