Address: 485-539 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario
Developer: Westbank Corp. and Allied Properties REIT
Architects: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Diamond Schmitt Architects
This development includes the construction of a mixed-use development composed of a permitter block of residential, retail, and boutique office spaces, surrounding a central public plaza situated over four underground parking levels. The public plaza will include a hardscaped courtyard with a water feature, an intensive landscaped gathering and seating areas.
As this development is located within the heart of Toronto’s downtown King West neighbourhood, a vital design goal for the site engineering was to compliment the elegant architectural design while meeting the City’s stringent stormwater management requirements. Low-Impact Design (LID) principles were used throughout the design to focus on water retention and re-use. Specifically, drainage features were integrated into the landscaping and courtyard design, and rain garden planters and green roofs systems were included throughout the site to significantly increase stormwater retention and reduce runoff. Excess stormwater runoff will be collected and utilized for the building’s internal plumbing and external irrigation. The LID components enabled the site to achieve water retention objectives that far exceeded the City’s standards while ensuring the aesthetic, green-focused architecture and site design remained uncompromised.
This project is currently in the construction phase with MGM Consulting continuing to provide construction administration services including periodic site inspections. The estimated completion date for KING Toronto is set for Summer 2023.