The design for a rare, low-rise commercial building in downtown Toronto was tasked with interpreting the texture of its historic urban context while also creating a defining landmark that both attracts attention and blends in with the busy streetscape. This challenge is met in a four-storey, 1,625.8 m² (17,500 sf) structure with retail at grade and three floors of offices above.

12 Ossington revives centuries-old tradition of water-struck, handcrafted, kiln-fired fabrication methods.

The upper volumes are very light, set back, and blend with the sky. The facade incorporates arched masonry openings referencing historic Toronto building typologies. At grade, irregularly proportioned arches are cut into the massing to form vaulted canopies and a portico at the north and south entrances. These arches structurally support the brickwork above, reintroducing brick as a load-bearing component of the façade system.

At the second level, arched glazed openings framed in masonry wrap the north corner and address the adjacent laneway. Integrated architectural lighting highlights these openings. The lower floors are completed with steel-framed windows with a dark finish and a continuous bronze reveal. The arched forms also reference window openings from the former two-storey building previously located on the site.

Masonry arches and recessed openings establish facade depth and articulation at a pedestrian scale, while the contrasting upper volume differentiates new construction from historic references.

The client’s objective was to reinforce Ossington Avenue’s main-street character through a well-crafted, mixed-use building that acts as a visual anchor along the street. The design emphasizes material quality, constructability, and fine detailing to support active retail frontage and contribute to the public realm.