Toronto's march toward more efficient use of land, normally referred to on UrbanToronto as densification or intensification, more often than not is focused on sites that are best served by public transit. This has resulted over the years particularly in land on and around the TTC's Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) becoming some of Canada's most densely occupied, and most sought real-estate. Not all of the good spots along the line are gone yet though, so we are seeing further intensification thanks to the ongoing building boom.

Worsley Urban Partners has one of those great sites, adjacent to Wellesley Station, and in fact right where a new north exit for the station will be built. Here Worsley is offering Totem Condos, an 18-storey, 120-unit condominium development with sophisticated architecture by RAW Design, and located at 17 Dundonald Street in Downtown Toronto.

Rendering of Totem Condos, image courtesy of Worsley Urban Partners

Totem is notable not just for its contemporary design, but also for its preservation and incorporation of the Commercial Travellers’ Association of Canada Building's modernist façade, a 2½-storey structure, built in 1956, which currently occupies the site. Moderism is often seen as expendable by many, but here the early Toronto Modern building is the ground floor inspiration for the tower which extrudes above and beyond it. The Commercial Travellers' façade will be dismantled prior to shoring and excavation taking place onsite. It will then be re-built and incorporated into the first two floors of Totem during construction.

Rendering of Totem Condos, image courtesy of Worsley Urban Partners

Totem feature amenity spaces designed by UNION31, including a gym, party room, and roof deck, but one amenity goes a step beyond what has been available to condominium dwellers in Toronto up to this point: here Totem residents will benefit from a secure passageway from their main floor lobby directly into the subway station, first of its kind in Toronto without having a commercial/retail mall component.

Rendering of Totem Condos, image courtesy of Worsley Urban Partners

Additional information about Totem, including renderings and floorplans, can be found in our dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.