An iconic landmark on Dupont Street, this building was originally an industrial factory, at one time it served as home to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and most recently housed a variety of creative uses.

We are determined to honour and expand the creative energy and vibrant mix historically found at this site through our redevelopment of this site.

This project will include 155 purpose-built rental apartments zoned for live/work. Picture over a hundred creative professionals, artists and entrepreneurs living, working and connecting under one roof.

Approximately 10% of the units will be affordable – a direct response to the affordability challenges faced by Torontonians and feedback received from the local community.

The ground floor will include an adaptable, multi-use space for community gatherings, exhibits, markets and the like. We’re also exploring other opportunities like creative co-working spaces, lounge areas, small-scale retail or even a cafe.

The project includes improvements to the local streetscape and urban life, including wider sidewalks and new open spaces along Dupont and Ossington. The preservation and relocation of the well-loved chimney stack to a more prominent location along Ossington Avenue.

The new building will prioritize environmental sustainability by striving to achieve Toronto Green Standards v3 Tier 2 and encouraging active transportation through robust infrastructure for cyclists and car-sharing.

TAS engages local communities early and thoughtfully to ensure we understand their strengths, potentials and aspirations – and can integrate these findings into our project design and programming plans.

In late 2019, we hosted focus group meetings with over 30 people and facilitated our own community conversations. In January 2020 we attended the City of Toronto led public consultation. The key findings from this process are represented visually in a User Perspective Map that can be accessed by clicking here. It’s extensive and exciting, be encouraged to check it out.

Location: Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson-Junction, Toronto, Canada 
Status: Rezoning 
Estimated Completion: 2026
Design Architect: Suulin Architects 
Executive Architect: ZAS Architects + Interiors 
Landscape Architect: gh3* 

TORONTO, July 22, 2022 – Toronto’s first entirely live/work purpose-built rental building is coming to the rapidly changing Dupont Corridor, celebrating the heritage of Dupont Street with a commitment to positively impacting the future of the city. Toronto City Council has approved the redevelopment of 888 Dupont Street, putting in motion plans for the site to once again serve as an iconic gathering place for creatives and the community.  

The project includes 155 purpose-built rental apartments zoned for live/work as well as ground-floor adaptable multi-use spaces for gatherings, exhibits and markets in a new environmentally sustainable building. A housing innovation that flexibly integrates designated workspace into living spaces, 888 Dupont Street helps address affordability by eliminating the cost of maintaining multiple spaces for work or operating a business and home. 

“TAS is committed to honouring and expanding the creative energy and vibrant mix of uses historically found along the Dupont Corridor and at 888 Dupont Street, creating the conditions for over a hundred creative professionals, artists and entrepreneurs to live, work and connect under one roof,” said Mazyar Mortazavi, President and CEO of TAS.

Bringing together commercial and residential uses, 888 Dupont Street will include over 2,300 square feet of commercial community space. The project also includes improvements to the local streetscape and urban life, including wider sidewalks and new open spaces along Dupont and Ossington as well as the preservation and relocation of the well-loved chimney stack to a more prominent location along Ossington Avenue. 

“We appreciate the company’s commitment to redeveloping 888 Dupont Street as a location where the creative community can continue to live and work together at this site,” said Oliver Pauk, Director at Akin, a Toronto-based arts organization that provides creative studio space and arts-based programming.

The project builds on local creative energy by adding much-needed live/work spaces in the form of rental apartments with approximately 10% affordable units, translating to 20 affordable live-work units – a direct response to the affordability challenges faced by Torontonians and feedback received from the local community during extensive focus group meetings and community consultations in 2019 and 2020. Key findings from this process are summarized in a User Perspective Map.    

“WoodGreen Community Services is pleased to partner with TAS to provide affordable units,” said Mwarigha, Vice President Housing and Homelessness Services at WoodGreen Community Services. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with TAS to find new ways to tackle our city’s affordable housing challenges.”

The new environmentally sustainable building will deliver 166,850 square feet over 14 storeys and will aim to achieve Toronto Green Standards v3 Tier 2 and will encourage active transportation through robust infrastructure for cyclists and car-sharing.