Description:
60 Richmond Street East is the first housing co-operative to be built in Toronto in many years. This project sets an example for urban infill and sustainability in the city. Located near a busy downtown Toronto intersection, this 11-storey building seeks to provide an alternative to the ubiquitous glass tower condominium projects. The massing of the building is imagined as a solid street wall that is then carved in order to create openings and terraces at various levels, which become the gardens and social spaces of the building. (…) A community garden on the sixth-floor terrace provides food for the restaurant and uses the organic waste gen-erated by the kitchens as compost for the garden. This creates a self-sustaining condition known as “urban permaculture.” (…)
Clearly at the forefront of sustainable innovation, the project has achieved LEED Gold certification for its environmental achievements. The architecture acts as a medium to cultivate greenery, cool and cleanse the air, and absorb stormwater. All roofs on the project are green surfaces, helping to insulate the building and limit the heat-island effect in the downtown core. (…)
The building evolved through an Integrated Design Process involving energy-modelling consultants, engineers, client groups and occupants. The appropriate ratio of solid versus glazed surfaces allows the building to achieve the optimal balance between natural light and cross-ventilation without overheating the interiors with excessive exposure to the sun. Unlike other residential building types, the entire structure is wrapped in a highly insulated rain-screen cladding that eliminates all thermal bridging. The fibreglass glazing acts as an extended thermal break which, in combination with low-E argon-filled units with warm edge spacers, provides optimal performance of the building envelope. A sophisticated mechanical system transfers energy from the warm south side to the cold north side of the building. In-suite heat recovery is provided throughout, resulting in an exceptionally energy-efficient residential building. [1]
Awards
2014 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture
2014 CaGBC Greater Toronto Chapter Innovation in LEED Award – First Place
2011 Toronto Urban Design Award – Award of Excellence
2011 AZ Awards – People’s Choice Award
2010 ArchDaily Building of the Year Award
2010 PUG People’s Choice Award
2010 OAA Design Excellence Award
2010 Sustainable Architecture & Building Award
2010 Design Exchange Award – Gold Standing
2007 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence
References:
[1] “60 Richmond East Housing CO-OPERATIVE.” Canadian Architect, April 30, 2014. https://www.canadianarchitect.com/60-richmond-east-housing-co-operative/.
Additional information:
“60 Richmond Street East Housing Co-Op.” Teeple Architects, October 8, 2020. http://www.teeplearch.com/portfolio/60-richmond-east-housing-development/.
“60 Richmond Street East: Closing Report.” Toronto Housing, November 15, 2010. https://www.torontohousing.ca/events/Documents/Archives/6839Item%204%20-%2060%20Richmond%20Street%20Closing%20Report.pdf.
“60 Richmond Street East: UrbanToronto.” News. Accessed August 30, 2021. https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/60-richmond-street-east.
Saieh, Nico. “60 Richmond Housing Cooperative / Teeple Architects.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily, November 2, 2010. https://www.archdaily.com/85762/60-richmond-housing-cooperative-teeple-architects.
Teeple Architects. “60 Richmond Street East Housing Co-Op ,” October 1, 2014.
60 Richmond: Award Winning Architecture Meets Social Housing. YouTube. YouTube, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZMH2vYQofA.
