The Building, Industry and Land Development association (BILD) handed out its 36th annual awards last week in Vaughan. Here are five projects that took top honours.
1. Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos
Award: Project of the Year – Mid/High-Rise
Developers: Freed Developments, Capital Developments
Details: Boasting lobbies designed by Karl Lagerfeld, this project—two towers (28- and 12-storeys) on a full city block along Yonge Street with 80k SF of street-front retail—made a big splash when it launched last year; it went on to become 2015’s fastest-selling condo.
2. Hullmark Centre
Award: Best New Community – Built
Developers: Tridel, Hullmark Developments
Details: Hullmark Centre reinvigorated Yonge and Sheppard, with the tallest condo tower on the North York skyline (49 floors, the other 35), 60k SF of retail, and office condos, all atop two subway lines. (Tridel was also named BILD’s Home Builder of the Year and Green Builder of the Year.)
3. Friday Harbour
Award: People’s Choice
Developers: Geranium Corp, Pemberton Group
Details: Envisioned as the GTA’s version of The Hamptons, this 600-acre project in Innifsfil—on the shores of Lake Simcoe—will include 1,500 homes, 500 hotel residences, a championship golf course and 1,000-slip marina, plus a retail village with restaurants, shops and theatres.
4. East United Condos
Award: Best High-Rise Building Design
Developers: SigNature Communities, Berkshire Axis Development, Andiel Homes
Designer: Giannone Petricone Associates Inc Architects
Details: Downtown East is super-hot right now, and this sold-out 289-unit project at 95 Berkeley St is testament to the fact. A red-brick heritage building (formerly the Christie, Brown & Co Stables, servicing the cookie factory) forms the base of the 21-storey condo, housing retail and office space.
5. The Craftsman
Award: Best Mid-Rise Building Design
Developer: VANDYK Group of Cos
Designer: U31 Design
Details: VANDYK’s been busy in Florida, but this 293-unit mid-rise condo complex on a 4.5-acre infill site in Mississauga is the firm’s signature project. Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired homes feature clean lines, expansive windows, and wood and fieldstone facades, plus earthy palettes.
