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Women Build: Powered By World Architecture News
S1E13:
Toronto - November 17, 2020
Every aspect of the Reina project has been run by a woman in a leadership role with the goal of drawing awareness to the significant gender imbalance that exists in real estate development and providing role models to encourage more women to enter these fields.
Sherry Larjani, Managing Partner at Spotlight Developments and Taya Cook Director of Development at Urban Capital joined forces and assembled a team of female experts from a range of industries including but not limited to construction management, architecture, engineering, including structural, mechanical and electrical, legal, marketing and sales.
Heather Rolleston, Principal and Design Director at BDP Quadrangle was brought into the project to design the architecture and interiors of Reina. Heather has 20 years of experience designing, leading and managing award-winning projects in the residential, mixed-use, master plan and commercial sectors. Prior to joining the Studio, Heather worked at architectsAlliance for 16 years as a Senior Associate. She continues to be active in the architecture and design community as a sitting member of the City of Toronto’s Design Review Panel, and also as a guest critic at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, as well as that of her alma mater, the University of Toronto Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
Taya Cook, Director of Development, Urban Capital and Sherry Larjani, Managing Partner at Spotlight Developments joined forces to conceptualise a condominium designed and developed by women, but for everyone.
The result is a thoughtful design in a forward thinking amenity programme with modern offerings like stroller parking throughout the building and a snack shack for all ages.
Together, Cook and Larjani assembled a team of female experts from a range of industries including but not limited to construction management, architecture, engineering, including structural, mechanical and electrical, legals, marketing and sales.
Every aspect of Reina has been run by a woman in a leadership role with the goal of drawing awareness to the significant gender imbalance that exists in real estate development and providing role models to encourage more women to enter these fields.
Once assembled, the team embarked on an extensive, year long consultation process, garnering feedback from a diverse array of users, including multigenerational families, parents with young or adolescent children, and singles. The resulting design is a striking, contemporary midrise with atypically large, flexible floor plans and a forward thinking amenity programme geared towards fostering community and familiarity between residents.
Designed by Quadrangle and rising on the Queensway, Reina's soft and feminine exterior showcases the transformation potential for the Etobicoke community.
With architecture and interiors by Quadrangle, Reina articulates a softer, lighter presence on the Queensway, proving you don’t have to be loud to transform a streetscape. A white brick exterior façade features a “quilted” effect, with soft curves and rounded corners, offering generous setbacks on the east and west. Picketed balconies wrap around Reina's exterior as the building steps back, with beautiful south facing views of the new oasis-like courtyard and Etobicoke's lakefront.
Reina’s community focused point of view was honed throughout the consultation process and informed the project’s robust amenity programme. By viewing amenities through a holistic, community focused lens the team strived to elevate Reina’s amenities above standard offerings. Starting with the amenity space itself which has been designed to be 25% larger than what the city requires, every demographic has been considered in its activation.
Not only are the gym and yoga studio equipped with weights and resistance training to offer workouts for a range of abilities, they’re also strategically located by the kids' playroom and have windows for parents who need to keep an eye on children while working on their fitness goals.
A hobby room is designed as a “messy” room where residents are invited to unleash their inner artist and get lost in creating, while a snack shack, born from a consultation session with the Girl Guides serves as a one stop spot for staple items like healthy snacks, juice, and everyday essentials like toilet paper. The sound(less) room can be used for music lessons, to meditate, or to host a karaoke party. Additional amenities include a library, a parcel room, a games room, and a community room for all hosting needs. To ensure a genuine sense of community is achieved, a Property Manager will be tasked with animating and programming amenities with activities suitable for all ages.
Listen to the full episode on Acast here:
About Spotlight Development
Spotlight Development is a Toronto-based real estate development company dedicated to creating innovative, inclusive, and community-driven housing solutions. Specializing in traditional market condominiums and affordable housing projects, Spotlight combines visionary design with a commitment to sustainability and community impact.
With over 10.5 million ft² of development space, representing more than $2 billion in managed assets, Spotlight Development is reshaping communities through projects that prioritize social impact and sustainability. Guided by the motto Impact Real Estate Empowering People, Spotlight is setting a new standard in the industry.
Learn more at www.spotlightdevelopment.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Jasmine Ashfield