RAW is responsible for the design many of the buildings in this city that generate a great deal of talk on UrbanToronto. The firm likes to push the boundaries when it comes to architecture, including a current discussion asking whether Toronto modernists are entering a more Mannerist phase. Buildings on RAW's roster currently form a long list for several clients. Projects include 31 Helendale, 39 Connaught, 43 Gerrard West, 303 Lofts, 440 Dufferin, Bellefair Kew Beach, Cube Lofts, Eleven Superior, Howard Park, Ironstone, Lakehouse, Lumen, Motif, Quartz, Spectra, and 109OZ. All of the UrbanToronto dataBase pages for those projects are linked below, but it was in the presentation centre for Reserve Properties' 109OZ where RAW threw their annual party to welcome summer.

This year's affair was called RAW'strip, and to that effect they commissioned a comic strip - booklet to take home, and giant canvases to adorn the venue's walls - of a Toronto under intense transformation, charting our growth, and maybe where and how further growth should occur.

Comic strip canvases lined the walls at the RAW'strip party, image by Craig White

Illustrators included Martha Jane Alexander, Robert Bentley, Yolanda Cheung, Ally Rom Colthoff, and Courtney Thompson.

RAW'strip, including illustrations charting Toronto's intensive growth, image by Craig White

To go along with the booklet, scent designer Tracy Pepe of Nose Knows Design created a signature scent for the occasion aimed to inspire creativity. Guests were able to nose the ingredients in a hands-on display.

Nose Knows scent notes display, image by Craig White

When the stormy weather passed, guests were able to enjoy an urban campground that had sprung up in 109's parking lot.

Party-goers in the urban campground that replace 109OZ's parking lot, image by Craig White

Party-goers in the urban campground that replace 109OZ's parking lot, image by Craig White

When the skies opened up again, the warehouse filled up with invitees from Toronto's architecture, design, and development communities. Were any new designs conceived through the intermingling of minds at the event? It usually takes several months to know…

The warehouse space at 109OZ was transformed into the RAW'strip party space, image by Craig White

Invitees nibbled on monochromatic munchables from Sublime Catering including blue potatos with a ceviche puree, pure white deviled eggs with a cauliflower core, and very red tomatos with tartar. RAW's parties are like their buildings: there's always ingenuity on display, and surprises for all. The company celebrated their 5th Anniversary with the event, and UrbanToronto wishes them 5 to the power of 5 more years of creative work in this quickly shifting and developing city!