August 23, 2012
Toronto heritage church part of St. Clements lofts project
Sonterlan Corporation aims to break ground next March on an estimated $10 million condominium development in Toronto?s Leslieville neighbourhood that will incorporate a heritage Anglican church.
Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects Inc., the St. Clements lofts will comprise a new, four-storey building connected by a glass bridge to the church. The Jones Avenue property was acquired by Sonterlan about six years ago.
?It?s an interesting juxtaposition of a contemporary building and a Victorian Gothic revival-style church on the same site,? said Sonterlan president William Tessler.
This style of architecture was favoured by Anglican congregations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The church boasts a pitched roof with belfry, pointed-arch window openings, lancet windows and decorative detailing.
The gross floor area of the total development is an estimated 43,000 square feet. The project will house 40, multi-level loft units.
Tessler, whose firm is acting as builder/developer on the project, said undertaking a project of this nature presents some ?interesting? challenges.
These include: ensuring that the church?s structure has sufficient capacity to carry the additional loads that will be imposed as a result of the conversion to lofts; and also making sure that the foundation isn?t disturbed during construction of an underground storage tank required to contain stormwater flow.
One issue, when it comes to construction of the new building, is dealing with the existing high water table.
Tessler said the water table needs to be maintained at a level of two feet below the lowest point of the parking structure beneath the building.
The project is being undertaken by a team that includes structural engineers KO & Partners Ltd.
In addition to providing development and contracting services in the areas of residential and commercial development, Sonterlan also is a heavy civil engineering construction consultant.
One of its previous projects was a 94-unit townhouse development in Whitby.
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