{"id":17279,"date":"2023-05-20T07:34:20","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T14:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/bdp-quadrangle-has-a-vision-for-1-5-million-more-toronto-homes\/"},"modified":"2023-05-20T07:34:21","modified_gmt":"2023-05-20T14:34:21","slug":"bdp-quadrangle-has-a-vision-for-1-5-million-more-toronto-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/bdp-quadrangle-has-a-vision-for-1-5-million-more-toronto-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"BDP Quadrangle Has A Vision for 1.5 Million More Toronto Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Toronto is grappling with a housing crisis, with demand outstripping supply, leading to skyrocketing home prices and rents. BDP Quadrangle, a leading architectural firm, has proposed an innovative solution: build 1.5 million homes<\/a> in the next decade. This ambitious goal, inspired by the More Homes Built Faster Act<\/a> (Bill 23), aims to nearly double the number of homes started in 2022. The challenge, however, is to ensure that this growth is equitable, environmentally sustainable, and embraces existing communities.<\/p>\n

An illustration of the envisioned communities as part of the study, image courtesy of BDP Quadrangle<\/span><\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with UrbanToronto, Ossie Airewele<\/a> of BDP Quadrangle<\/a> provided insights into the firm’s study. “It’s a thought leadership piece from the innovation strand in the studio,” Airewele explained. On the blog page<\/a> of their site, they had previously written about addressing the issue from a construction perspective, and focusing on the qualitative aspect of hitting the 1.5 million target.<\/p>\n

Airewele highlighted the importance of considering different streams for planning communities and exploring areas of opportunity, such as converting single dwellings into multiplexes. He noted that BDP Quadrangle wanted to see what level of density could be achieved in those areas.<\/p>\n

The plan also emphasizes the need to maintain the right balance and mix in communities, including green spaces, daycare, shops, and schools. Airewele stressed that these complete communities “need the right balance and mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

An illustration demonstrating the core values of the complete communities concept, image courtesy of BDP Quadrangle<\/span><\/p>\n

The study acknowledges the unique characteristics of Toronto’s communities and neighbourhoods, with Airewele describing them as a “great tapestry in the urban framework that makes Toronto unique.” He emphasized the need to nurture and encourage this diversity, making the city an attractive destination for people planning to call it home.<\/p>\n

The design principles to help create complete communities as part of the study, image courtesy of BDP Quadrangle<\/span><\/p>\n

The plan also addresses the environmental aspect of the housing crisis. By utilizing existing infrastructure in a planned way, this would work towards achieving growth while also taking into consideration the Toronto Green Standard<\/a> and Net Zero by 2040 Climate Strategy<\/a>. Airewele noted that this is “an environmentally sustainable way to utilize resources [the city already has] to upscale to increased density.\u201d\u00a0The plan advocates for densifying existing transit modes and creating a network of accessible modes of transport.<\/p>\n

An illustration of how the proposal calls for sustainably densifying existing transit modes, image courtesy of BDP Quadrangle<\/span><\/p>\n

Airewele concluded that “the study is a plan for the growth, in a socially and environmentally way. It focuses on the quality of life and feeds into the neighbourhoods that makes Toronto a fantastic place to be.”<\/p>\n

BDP Quadrangle is eager to work with like-minded partners in the City of Toronto to help make this study a reality. It promises a socially and environmentally sustainable approach to addressing Toronto’s housing crisis. The firm hopes that through wider awareness, it can find partners, developers, community leaders, and help from the City itself to form the plan.<\/p>\n

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this study. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page.<\/p>\n

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UrbanToronto has a research service,\u00a0UrbanToronto Pro<\/a>, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area\u2014from proposal through to completion. We also offer\u00a0Instant\u00a0Reports<\/a>, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter,\u00a0New Development Insider<\/a>, that tracks projects from initial application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n