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Developers Fitzrovia have been busy since their acquisition of the Bloor & Dufferin masterplanned development site with partners Hazelview Investments and AIMCo. In just under a year, they have developed a comprehensive plan with the help of Turner Fleischer Architects that will see the construction of three new rental buildings on the eastern half of the site, delivering a total of 889 new rental units. The momentum doesn’t stop there, though; marching forward with the next stages of the project, Fitzrovia hosted a ground breaking ceremony last week, officially marking the start of construction.
“We could not be more excited to announce the commencement of construction at this landmark site,” said Adrian Rocca, CEO and Founder of Fitzrovia. “Our focus on building sustainable, long-lasting communities that enrich the lives of our residents and surrounding neighbourhoods is the driving force behind this exciting new development. At its completion, The Marlow, The Quinton, and The Belvoir will feature three new best-in-class luxury rental towers, which will feature the thoughtful integration of the preserved historic Kent School.”
The names mentioned by Rocca — The Marlow, The Quinton, and the Belvoir — respectively refer to the buildings coming on blocks C, D, and E of the masterplanned site, as indicated below. These three blocks all fronting Dufferin Street, represent Fitzrovia’s share of the development, while the western half of the site will be presided over by Hazelview.
The buildings vary in height and massing, creating a visually diverse street-wall condition that maintains a coherent style. The tallest tower at 29 storeys, The Marlow, occupies the prominent corner of Dufferin and Bloor, its stepped podium extending west along the Bloor Street frontage. The tower’s exterior expression is defined by a pattern of emphasized vertical bays of windows that run the entire height of the tower, while a grid of precast framing separates the individual floors and windows.
Moving south, The Quinton is set to rise from behind the heritage Kent School building, currently being restored on site to plans by heritage specialists Goldsmith Borgal & Company. The new building will stand 18 storeys with minimal formal changes or step-backs, putting forward a massing that works within the existing footprint of the classic beaux arts style school building. A two storey reveal of vision glass and spandrel separates the tower from the school building below, creating a formal transition between the two volumes.
Finally, The Belvoir occupies the southeastern corner of the site with a 19-storey tower that is defined by a terraced massing that works to create meaningful outdoor spaces while allowing an abundance of light to reach the major arterial street below. The building steps back from the eastern edge a total of five times, reducing the depth of the floor-plate by about half, while a notable step-back from the northern edge of the building at the second level creates a subtle C-shaped arrangement seen from above.
The buildings will enjoy the benefits of Fitzrovia’s signature amenity program, which will include a commercial-grade gym with a basketball court, known as The Temple, as well as the staple resort-inspired rooftop pool, LIDO, and 10 DEAN café/bar. Additionally, Fitzrovia will welcome Bloomsbury Academy, an early learning institution offering year-round preschool and kindergarten programs framed around best practices in early childhood education.
“This ground-breaking ceremony symbolizes the inauguration of a design concept and philosophy that we believe will set a new standard for luxury rental living in Ontario; an approach to building artistry that will be referenced for decades to come,” said Bahar Joshan Poosh, VP of Design at Fitzrovia. With construction now underway, the three buildings will be brought to life concurrently, with first occupancy targeted for early 2026.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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