Could former office buildings and retail stores be the solution we need for more housing options in Ontario?
Back in the early 1980s, there was an explosion of former offices and warehouses being converted into some of the most historic lofts.
This is where the Candy Factory Lofts, Merchandise Lofts, Broadview lofts and many others were born.
In this podcast, we explore the transformation of a 15-story office building into 331 eco-friendly rental units in Toronto’s Eglinton East. Learn about the innovative E-lofts project by Amexon Development, which combines contemporary loft-style living with sustainability and exceptional connectivity. The project stands out with its distinctive copper-toned exterior featuring integrated solar panels, offering both energy efficiency and a unique architectural identity.
Discover how the conversion caters to modern living needs, leveraging the location's sweeping views of Lake Ontario and accessibility to key transit hubs like Don Valley Station and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The episode further delves into the underlying market dynamics, revealing how changes in Toronto’s office market demand have prompted such creative adaptations of space.
Source: BlogTO
Podcast via AI
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Welcome to the Deep Dive. You've found a really interesting development in Toronto
00:00:04 --> 00:00:09 for us, this transformation of an office building into, well, into new lofts.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:13 E-lofts, they're calling it. That's right, yeah. Let's get right into unpacking
00:00:13 --> 00:00:14 what this project is all about.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 Absolutely. So your interest brought us, virtually speaking,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 to Eglinton East and Don Mills Ride. Right.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:26 250 Foran Drive. It's a 15-story office building, and Amex on Development is
00:00:26 --> 00:00:31 doing the makeover. The plan is, well, 331 rental units.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:36 So quite a few new homes for the area. That's a decent number. And the name E-lofts.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 It seems pretty deliberate, doesn't it? It does seem like it.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 Kind of hints at the environmental side, maybe.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:46 Right. And, you know, for Eglinton, that whole corridor has a certain energy. Makes sense.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 And the whole pitch, reading between the lines from the sources,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:54 is this idea of contemporary loft-style living with a focus on sustainability
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 and connectivity. Okay.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 So, yeah, you were curious, maybe let's start with the location. What makes it stand out?
00:00:59 --> 00:01:03 Well, the sources definitely highlight a couple of things. One is the potential
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 for panoramic views of Lake Ontario.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 Ah, yeah. I mean, in Toronto, getting those clear lake views,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:11 that's always a big deal, isn't it?
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 It really is a major selling point. And it's not just looking south,
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 apparently. It's also got this connection to the Don River Parklands.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 Oh, okay. So you get a completely different vibe there.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:25 Greenery, nature, you know, and actual access to that green space,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 which is huge. Yeah, more and more important to the city for sure.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 And then there's getting around, transit sounds like a real plus here.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 It does. Walking distance to Don Valley Station, which is, well, it's a key spot.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:41 Exactly. And that's just like one piece of it. It's also close to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 Right, the light rail. Yeah, which, you know, fingers crossed,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 should be running later this year. That'll be a game changer for east-west travel
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49 across the city. Definitely.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:56 And looking like further ahead, the Ontario line, maybe 20, 31-ish.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 That'll be relatively close to another big north-south option.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:03 Right. So when they say connectivity, it seems like they've got the bases covered there. Seems like it.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 Now that E in Elofs, it brings us back to sustainability.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:14 What did you pick up from the sources about the green design elements?
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 Well, what seems really interesting is how they're baking it right into the design.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:25 They specifically mention this copper-toned exterior that actually has solar
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26 panels integrated into it.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 So not just, you know, stuck on the roof somewhere, it's part of the facade. Right.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 Built right in, which serves two purposes, really.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 One, obviously generating clean energy, boosting efficiency.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:42 But two, it gives the building a really distinct look, sort of an architectural identity.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 It visually signals that environmental focus. Yeah, that makes sense.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 And beyond just the panels, the whole
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 project is described as having an environmentally sustainable approach.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:55 We don't have like a full list of every single green tech thing they're doing,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 but highlighting those integrated panels.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 It suggests it's a core part of the philosophy. Right. Good point.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 And it connects to the loft idea too, right? The overall character.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 It's not just about being green. It's about a lifestyle. Right.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 Exactly. They talk about a bold, authentic loft character.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:17 So when you're converting an office building, what design things actually give you that loft feel?
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Yeah. This is where the original building is key.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 Dan mentions from Die by Four Design, one of the sources mentions him.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:29 He talks about the building having great bones, things like high ceilings, classic loft.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:35 Feature, an open, flexible floor plate, and those exposed concrete bits,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 that raw kind of industrial chic look people associate with lofts.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 So they're not hiding its past as an office building.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 They're actually using those features, lining into it. Exactly.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 Repurposing what's already there. Right.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 And Denny Paletti from Core Architects talks about this fusion,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:54 how the design seamlessly blends contemporary style with environmental responsibility.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:59 So it's like these two big ideas, style and sustainability, are meant to work
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 together, not just be separate features.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 Okay. Yeah, that paints a pretty clear picture. Modern living,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 stylish, but also, you know, eco-conscious.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 Now, let's shift gears a bit because the sources also give us some important context.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:16 The state or Toronto's office market right now, it sounds like this ELOFS thing
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 is happening against a pretty dramatic backdrop.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 Yeah. If you connect this specific project to the bigger picture,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 it definitely seems timed with what's happening in the office market.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:32 The info you shared points to, well, some describe it as a dying office market. Wow. Strong words.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 Yeah. With demand apparently hitting new lows late last year,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 end of 2024. for. It's not just a small dip.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 No, the numbers are pretty stark. Downtown Toronto office vacancy. Yeah.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 19.7 percent. That's the figure cited.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 Which is crazy when you think back to what, late 2019?
00:04:48 --> 00:04:52 It was apparently a record low then, like 2.2 percent. It's a massive swing,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 a really dramatic shift, especially because, you know, a lot of companies are
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 asking people to come back to the office at least some of the time.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:03 So it suggests there might be something more fundamental going on with how businesses
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 use office space, not just a temporary thing.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 So, okay, you've got all this empty office space.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:13 It kind of makes sense to think, hey, could we turn these into apartments?
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 Solves two problems at once, potentially housing shortage and empty buildings.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 It seems logical on the surface, absolutely.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 But there's a catch that the sources mention.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 Even though residents and the city might like the idea of conversions,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 apparently a lot of developers actually prefer to just demolish the old office building. Really?
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 And build a new residential tower from scratch. Huh.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 Why is that? It feels like reusing the structure would be better,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 you know, cheaper, greener.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 Well, it often comes down to the complexity and cost of the retrofit.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:49 Adapting old office systems, plumbing, electrical, even just the layout for
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 modern apartments can be really tricky and expensive.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 You've got building codes, tenant expectations.
00:05:55 --> 00:06:00 Sometimes, even though building new is also costly, it gives developers more
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 design freedom and maybe fewer headaches down the road with maintenance.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 So a project like Elofs, where they are doing the conversion...
00:06:06 --> 00:06:11 Might be a bit less common because of those costs. It suggests this particular
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 building must have had something going for it. Exactly.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 Those great bones. We talked about the high ceilings, the floor plate.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:21 They probably made this specific building a much better candidate for conversion
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 than maybe some other older office buildings.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:27 Right. It had the right foundation for creating those lofts people want.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:31 It really does seem like a solid foundation. Yeah. It's a really interesting mix, isn't it?
00:06:31 --> 00:06:37 Market forces, city planning needs, and clever architecture all coming together.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:42 This office market shift is maybe pushing developers towards these kinds of creative solutions.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:47 I think so. And it highlights this bigger idea of adaptive reuse,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 you know, finding new uses for old buildings.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:53 It can be way more sustainable than just tearing everything down and starting over.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:58 You save materials, embodied energy. Good point. And you can get some really unique results.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 Okay, so let's kind of wrap this up, this deep dive into Elofs.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:07 It shows a pretty fascinating project taking shape in Toronto,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:12 an older office building, getting a new life as these modern sustainable rental lofts.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 And like we discussed, it's not just happening in a vacuum.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:19 It's clearly a reaction to what's going on with the city's real estate,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 especially that struggling office sector. Definitely.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:27 And for you, the listener who brought this up, the standout things are really that mix.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:31 The loft style, the sustainability angle with those integrated solar panels,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:37 the really good transit access, all happening within a repurposed building. It's a unique package.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:42 It really offers an interesting look at how cities can and maybe have to adapt
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 to, you know, changing times and challenges. Right.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 Which leads to maybe a final thought for you to chew on. Given everything we've
00:07:48 --> 00:07:52 talked about here, the pros, the cons, the challenges of this kind of transformation,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:57 what other kinds of buildings out there in our cities, maybe old factories or
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 big empty retail spaces, not just offices, what other structures do you see
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 that might be ripe for this kind of innovative repurposing?
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 To meet the needs we have now, it kind of makes you look at the city differently, doesn't it?
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