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A new mid-rise development is coming to Etobicoke’s burgeoning community along The Queensway, with Equiton Developments introducing Maxium, an 11-storey condo development at 875 The Queensway near its intersection with Islington Avenue. Designed by Icon Architects, the project contains 152 units and retail at grade, with a terraced massing composed of brick and metal cladding. Maxium 875 The Queensway was recently recognized at the BILD Awards, winning the Best Mid-Rise Building Design category for 2025.
The development was originally submitted to the City of Toronto for rezoning in 2021 with a design from KFA Architects & Planners, initially at a height of 14 storeys. That application stalled and eventually ended up at the OMB, where a settlement reduced it to 11 storeys. The site was then purchased by Equiton in 2023, who brought on Icon Architects to pick up where the previous proposal from KFA left off and bring it through detailed design. Working from the massing agreed upon at the OMB settlement, Icon refined the design and added the current finishes seen in the renderings.
The building features a terraced form which meets the sidewalk at the property line and gradually steps back away from the street. The lower six storeys are clad in a grey brick, with the upper five floors fading into the back with a white metal panel finish. Reza Eslami, Principal at Icon Architects, explains that, “we have used a mix of brick, glass, and metal to bridge the traditional low-rise commercial buildings of The Queensway and the newer mid-rise developments. We considered evident-toned brick to echo the historical industrial aesthetic while incorporating large glass sections for a contemporary feel.”
The development is designed to respond to the eclectic mix of built form and uses in the Queensway neighbourhood. “The Queensway has a unique character, blending historic industrial roots, mid-century commercial strips, and contemporary urban renewal,” explains Eslami. “Our 11-storey condo needed to respond to this evolving streetscape while respecting its past and future.”
Inside the building, a variety of amenities are provided for residents on both the ground floor and rooftop. The ground floor features a fitness room with infrared sauna; an entertainment and games room; a kids’ play area; and an outdoor terrace complete with a pet area and pet spa. On the rooftop, a barbecue and outdoor lounge area offers residents a chance to take in the views, while an indoor event space is available for social gatherings.
The unit mix skews toward larger unit sizes, with more than half of the residences having at least two bedrooms. The breakdown includes 9 studios (5.9%), 59 one-bedrooms and one-plus-dens (38.8%), 69 two bed-rooms and two-plus-dens (45.4%), and 15 three-bedrooms and three-plus-dens (9.9%).
Continuing The Queensway’s transformation from a suburban to an urban environment, Maxium includes 263m² of commercial spaces at grade as part of the mid-rise development. “The idea was that the development should feel like an extension of the street,” Eslami elaborates. “Many older buildings on The Queensway have a human-scale, pedestrian-friendly presence. We wanted to have a building that avoids a stark, monolithic frontage, and we did so by incorporating an articulated facade, varied materials, and active storefronts where the building meets the street.”
The development was recently awarded Best Mid-Rise Building Design by BILD, an achievement that Icon is proud to add to their roster of award-winning projects. “Every detail of this structure has been carefully considered to achieve architectural excellence,” Eslami states. “The balance between aesthetics and functionality in architecture is a fundamental challenge that has shaped the built environment for centuries. To me, a great architecture seamlessly blends form and function, like a poetic discourse. It’s a back and forth to reach that AHA! moment, ensuring that buildings are both visually compelling and practical for their intended use.” At Maxium, Eslami touts that they have achieved this balance, with a building that is “iconic yet contextual. A unique corner treatment, extensive rooftop design, and signature material and colour choices sets this building apart, without feeling out of place.”
The project is in the late stages of the planning process, and has recently applied for building permits. With the site already cleared, construction seems imminent.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file with yet more renderings, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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