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Every city in the world has a ‘look’. Where London is history married with modernism, Paris' seven-storey avenues exude romance, and the gothic canyons mark New York, each has a look and feel that tells residents and visitors alike about itself.
As chronicled in articles marking 20 years of UrbanToronto, this city also has a look, one that has changed dramatically over the years. From its 1930s British colonial appearance through its sleek Financial District skyscraper evolution of the 1970s and 1980s, to today’s modern, gleaming metropolis, Toronto’s appearance has been in large part because of the work of architects such as Turner Fleischer, whose impact on the city as the company approaches its 50th anniversary in 2024 should not be overlooked. Since its founding in 1974, Turner Fleischer has actively contributed to more than 2,100 projects in the city of Toronto and more than 3,900 throughout the GTA.
As evidence of their impact on the city over these many decades, Turner Fleischer developed what it calls a ‘heat map’ which spans the GTA, illustrating with individual dots those more than 3,900 projects they have actively contributed to.
Through a diverse portfolio spanning architecture, interior design and experiential graphic design, they have engaged in projects ranging from small-scale endeavors to master-planned communities, devoting equal attention to every client and project. The heat map has a dot for each project and generates a concentrated and visually impactful overview of the depth and breadth of Turner Fleischer’s impact on the city and their reach.
“Turner Fleischer’s impact on Toronto extends to contributing well-designed buildings that enhance the public realm, offering sensible retail spaces and much-needed high-density housing for a diverse population,” says Principal Russell Fleischer. “We’ve played a pivotal role in providing both affordable and market housing, enriching the city’s landscape. Despite our size we have stayed true to our small firm roots. The strength and continuity of our client relationships, our dedication to the growth and development of our studio members, our impact to our community through the buildings and spaces we design and our commitment to giving back still reflects the values and vision of our founding partner Peter Turner.”
To not only survive but thrive in business for five decades means, whatever your industry, you are providing value to your clients, through expertise, service and professionalism. Turner Fleischer’s primary contribution to clients lies in professionalism and customer service to facilitate the realization of well-designed projects.
They possess a profound comprehension of the economics of development, enabling them to design and deliver buildings which align with the client’s criteria from the project’s inception. They are a solution driven studio which sees challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.
In playing a major role on the ‘look’ of Toronto over the years, Turner Fleischer’s approach to building and architecture has revolved around the synergy of experience and technical expertise, resulting in designs which are both practical and innovative. A guiding commitment of the firm is to create environments that not only meet client and market demands, but also demonstrate adaptability to seamlessly blend into their surroundings, while elevating and enriching the lives of those who inhabit and engage with its designs.
Two of their more notable projects include Maple Leaf Gardens on Carlton Street and Broadview Lofts at 68 Broadview Avenue in Riverdale. The transformation of Maple Leaf Gardens, completed in 2011, was Turner Fleischer’s successful conversion of one of Canada’s most famous buildings into a mixed-use development while preserving its heritage attributes and iconic character as one of the NHL’s Original Six hockey arenas. Broadview Lofts, completed in July 2009, was a genuine loft conversion of a factory into residential spaces, underscoring the firm’s ability to repurpose and revitalize existing structures, adapting it for Toronto's ongoing growth while preserving the building's essence of the city.
Along Dupont Street, they are participating in five mixed-used projects to enhance the street-level experience with retail spaces that integrate with the established character of that landmark street and enhance the vibrancy of the popular neighbourhood.
In Etobicoke, The James Club at 1135 Royal York Road completed in 2011 was an example of Turner Fleischer introducing added density into well-established neighbourhoods by adding housing into sites which already host residential apartment buildings to enhance the local community.
Turner Fleischer has also played a major role in the growth of Mississauga from a sleepy suburb to an urban dynamo, with a portfolio that boasts eleven buildings through eight projects which form a concentrated presence in the city centre core.
One of Turner Fleischer’s specific skills is its ability to transform non-residential environments into welcoming and inviting residential precincts. An example is Atria Condos near Highway 404 and Sheppard Avenue East, with Alto, Trio, Parfait, and Parkside completed between 2017 and 2020. These projects introduced residential elements to areas previously oriented towards employment, with mid- to high-rise structures integrated with parks and active pedestrian connections.
As Toronto has changed over the decades, Turner Fleischer has stayed apace, expanding their services to position themselves to lead for years to come. They have undergone a transformation from being solely an architectural practice to one that now includes interior design and experiential graphic design, spanning a wide array of residential, commercial, and retail, to industrial, seniors housing, and beyond. This evolution has enriched the firm’s ability to conceptualize and construct the most cutting-edge mixed-use developments which not only enrich Toronto’s fabric but also lay the groundwork for success for many years to come.
With his decades of experience in Toronto architecture, Fleischer is also a perfect sage to gaze into a crystal ball to visualize what changes we might see in Toronto’s architecture in the ensuring decades.
“Looking ahead, we anticipate even larger and more environmentally impactful buildings in Toronto driven by provincial changes and increased immigration,” Fleischer offers. “Sustainability will assume a crucial role in shaping architectural designs, ushering in a departure from expansive window wall structures. Furthermore, we believe there will be a sustainable uptick in the use of mass timber as a sustainable material solution, both in design and application.”
Turner Fleischer now has approximately 250 staff calling Toronto home and contributing to the look and livability of the city. “Toronto is more than just a city, it’s our home,” says Fleischer. “As a Canadian company, our commitment to building in the city we call home is profound. Toronto holds a special place in our hearts and the majority of our work is concentrated right in our own backyard. Our aim is to make a meaningful and thoughtful contribution to the continued growth and vibrancy of this remarkable city.”
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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.
