The effort to revitalize Toronto’s Regent Park community on the east side of the Downtown Core began formally in 2006, when the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) selected The Daniels Corporation as the development partner for the first phase of the project. 

Nearly 20 years later, Daniels’ impact on Regent Park is immortalized in three phases of development that include 10 completed projects offering thousands of units. Now, with construction underway on Daniels on Parliament to bring about the completion of phase three, Daniels is on the cusp of seeing their decades-spanning development mission come to a close. Designed by superkül, the project will see the construction of a 10-storey mid-rise building, the North Tower, as well as a 25-storey building, the South Tower, offering a combined total of 617 units. 

Looking southeast to the North Tower of Daniels on Parliament, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

The site is located at the southeast corner of Parliament and Gerrard streets, providing the future development with an exceptional amount of transportation flexibility including robust cycling infrastructure throughout the Downtown Core, and extensive TTC service with streetcars on Gerrard and busses on Parliament, providing direct connections to both Yonge Line 1 and Bloor Line 2 subways. Beyond transportation, the site also enjoys close proximity to the existing community amenities of Regent Park, including the 6-acre community park, the Athletic Grounds, the Daniels Spectrum, and the extensive retail offerings lining the major streets. 

Map of Regent Park development shows location of Daniels on Parliament, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

The design of the project sees the towers’ podium sections take on a C-shaped massing at the second level, forming a perimeter around a central outdoor amenity courtyard. The North Tower eventually separates from the podium volume at the eighth storey, cutting out large sections from the west and east sides of the C-shaped floor-plate to transition into an L-shaped tower volume that rises another three storeys. Meanwhile, the South Tower separates from the C-shaped podium volume at the fifth level, rising from the western portion of the podium with a standard rectangular floor-plate to climb an additional 20 storeys. 

Site plan shows C-shaped massing of both tower podiums, image from submission to City of Toronto

As for the cladding, the podium sections will feature red brick finished precast paneling while the towers will receive panels of Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) with some subtle variations. The North Tower’s mostly white cladding will be accented by panels of grey creating a checkered-like pattern, while the south tower will see the application of larger sections of grey cladding composed of a number of long and narrow panels installed in a row, expressing the verticality of the tower. 

Looking northeast to the South Tower, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

Looking at some of the interior programming, the project’s extensive amenity program — dubbed the PA/GE One Club for the intersecting streets — is concentrated on the section floors of both towers, which are connected through the outdoor courtyard as well as an enclosed pedestrian bridge. Along with offerings like a fitness centre and co-working spaces, a prep kitchen and dining room, and a screening room, the PA/GE One Club provides a number of more unique amenities like a maker space. 

Maker space is one of the indoor amenities offered in the PA/GE One Club, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

The courtyard adds another layer to the amenity program, delivering a light-filled outdoor living area that is designed to facilitate a mix of social and personal activities. A dining and barbecue area positioned beneath a white canopy offers a shaded area for hosting events, while four hammocks on the other side of the courtyard offer a more tranquil setting for outdoor relaxation. 

2nd level amenity courtyard adds extensive outdoor space to amenity program, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

With shoring now completed and excavation well underway, carving out space for the project’s two underground levels, the first stages of forming work will get underway in the coming weeks. Upon completion, the project will bring The Daniels Corporation one step closer to the end of a near 20 year development effort seeing the delivery of a suite of buildings that have had a transformative impact on the City, creating a healthy mixed-income community in the heart of the Downtown. 

Looking northwest to excavation progress on site, image by UT Forum contributor WislaHD

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.

* * *

UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.

Related Companies:  Counterpoint Engineering, Isotherm Engineering Ltd., KIRKOR Architects and Planners, NAK Design Strategies, Parcel One, Platinum Condo Deals, Rebar Enterprises Inc, The Daniels Corporation, The Fence People, U31