2.8K 
QuadReal Property Group has resubmitted plans for 226 Soudan Avenue, a 45-storey purpose-built rental tower in Midtown Toronto. The new design by Sweeny &Co Architects, takes into consideration updated priorities for greater housing density near transit. The project would deliver more rental options with 527 rental units on the northeast corner of Soudan and Brownlow avenues, just steps from the future Mount Pleasant station on the Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown LRT, anticipated to open in 2025, making it one of Toronto’s most transit-accessible locations.
QuadReal is a global real estate investment, development, and operating company headquartered in Vancouver, with $85 billion in assets under management and a portfolio of over 66,000 residential units worldwide. The company is therefore able to bring extensive experience to this project, aiming to create a sustainable, community-focused development.
QuadReal told us that in this case they looked at the needs of the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood where nearly 50% are single-person households, and over 85% of its residents are apartment dwellers with an average age of 39. The site’s walking distance to Eglinton Avenue East and Mount Pleasant Road places it within quick reach of various shopping, dining, and recreational options, with planned improvements to the public realm and pedestrian experience coming in the future.
The revised proposal is a response to both economic realities and shifting policy frameworks. The design has reimagined the site as a 45-storey tower, in response to provincial and municipal goals of increasing density near transit hubs. Situated within a Major Transit Station Area, the development supports the City’s drive to expedite housing supply and optimize land use in rapidly urbanizing neighbourhoods.
The tower would rise from above a 5-storey podium, reaching a height of 159.3m. Its 527 purpose-built rental suites range from studio to three-bedroom layouts, with 40% being 2- and 3-bedroom units, with an average unit size of 54m². Residents will have access to over 1,579m² of amenities, including outdoor terraces atop the podium and tower rooftop. Alongside its 121 parking spaces for residents and 9 for visitors, the design features 581 bicycle parking spaces to promote active transportation.
Sweeny&Co Architects have refined a design that aims to harmonize with the surrounding midtown neighbourhood. The tower’s clean vertical lines are accented by balconies limited to its corners, creating a slender profile. A lighter, articulated cladding defines the upper levels, contrasting with the solid materiality of the podium below. The podium’s heavier piers establish a strong base, anchoring the building within its landscaped forecourt designed by o2 Planning and Design.
The building's massing features setbacks along Soudan and Brownlow avenues that provide pedestrian-friendly shoulders and aim to minimize the perceived height at street level. The setbacks open into a landscaped public realm, with 430m² of POPS (Privately-Owned Publicly-accessible Space) creating an inviting community hub and adding to the emerging public realm along Soudan Avenue. The transition from the podium’s grounded design to the lighter verticality of the tower aims to bring together classical proportions with contemporary urban design.
Just a three-minute walk from the future Mount Pleasant Crosstown LRT station, 226 Soudan will offer quick access to the city’s expanding transit network. Eglinton TTC subway station at Yonge Street is only a six-minute walk away, and nearby cycling routes include Broadway Avenue’s shared lanes and the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail. Planned public realm upgrades, such as widened sidewalks and improved streetscapes under the Eglinton Connects initiative, will further add to the area’s walkability and pedestrian-focused environments.
QuadReal's aim to create sustainable communities that bring long-term value to residents and investors is an approach to urban planning also seen in its Cloverdale Mall, Bayview Village, and Assembly Park masterplanned developments. With 226 Soudan and other proposals including 30 Merton Street and 1153 Queen Street West, QuadReal aims to address Toronto's growing demand for rental housing.
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, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — 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.
