This surgical intervention into the base of an apartment building illustrates how a strategic re-imagining of a blank façade, framing a courtyard and strengthening the relationships with other adjacent buildings resulted in an architectural design that is sensitive to the needs of the community. Located in Scarborough, the Lawrence-Orton is one of three pilot communities in Toronto Community Housing’s ReSet program which focuses on building renewal and socioeconomic action plans with residents.

The Lawrence-Orton Child Care Facility is a joint Toronto Community Housing-Children’s Services project comprising five daycare classrooms, administrative spaces and a dedicated outdoor play area for 54 children ranging in age from infants to five years old.

SvN’s work includes the refurbishment of a residential tower and low-rise building that shares a central courtyard. With no presence on the street, efforts were made to create a sense of security, accessibility and inclusion. Working with ERA Architects, SvN went through an extensive community engagement process which resulted in the new community and daycare centre.

SvN also worked with structural engineers to resolve a number of highly technical substructure issues. This includes a new waterproof membrane on the top side of the parking garage roof slab and new helical piles under footings of three of the four low-rise buildings to mitigate current foundation settlement. Additional upgrades include upgrading fire alarm systems in both the high- and low-rise buildings, providing additional ventilation in the low-rise buildings and upgrading the existing fire protection of the high-rise building with new sprinklers throughout.

Photography by Scott Norsworthy