BARRIE CONDOMINIUMS

BARRIE CONDOMINIUMS

On a sloped south-facing site overlooking the waters of Kempenfelt Bay, and directly north of Barrie’s city hall is this mixed-use condominium project. Its “base”; a long, linear glassy building containing a 3-storey restaurant at its south end, professional offices in the middle with condominium and underground parking entrances to the north, is clad in honed grey limestone; a nod to the heavily textured, grey limestone clad Simcoe County Courthouse (Barrie Courthouse) across the street to the east.

The “base”, directly abutting Mulcaster Street brings the building’s lower programs right up to the street’s edge in an effort to promote good urban design and beautiful streets. Capped with a black zinc horizontal roof plane that gestures south towards Kempenfelt Bay, the base and roof create a strong urban form in downtown Barrie. On top of this base, to the north side, is the 17-storey condominium, whose three primary facades – south, east and west – are fully glazed to drink in the waterfront views of Kempenfelt Bay beyond.

To the back side of the condominium tower, where views are less dramatic, are stacked a series of 2-storey, one bedroom apartments, with the intention of attracting a younger clientele looking to purchase their first home.

At the meeting point where the condominium tower meets the roof of the linear base are all of the building’s public amenities, including an indoor pool. South of the amenities and exterior to the building can be found a shallow reflecting pool, complete with stepped terraces, ornamental grasses and numerous potted maple trees. This enormous, elevated terrace offers residents a lush, natural playground just above the adjacent streets, connecting them visually to Kempenfelt Bay and offering a place of pleasant respite within a busy urban centre.

LOCATION: Barrie, Ontario

ARCHITECT: LINEVISION Architects

DESIGN LEADERSHIP: Michael Poitras,
Principal-in-Charge

CLIENT: Withheld

STATISTICS:

  • No. of stories: 20
  • Total floor area:
    205,270 ft2 (19,070 m2)
  • Below grade parking: 158 stalls (including 7 barrier-free)

MATERIALS:

  • Curtain wall + horizontal maple wood battens set between the glass
  • Plate glass with glass fins
  • Honed grey limestone & landscape walls
  • Black zinc fascias & balconies
  • Grey prefinished metal siding
  • Black prefinished metal pool guardrails
  • White & yellow painted DensDeck soffits
  • Vertical wood screens (condominium entrance)
  • Outdoor landscaping

GENERAL PROGRAM:

  • 3-storey restaurant
  • 2-storey professional offices
  • Condominiums (1,2 & 3 bedroom units)
  • Indoor amenities including indoor pool
  • Outdoor reflecting pool and landscaping

COST: Withheld

COMPLETION: Project