Echoing the general sentiment so far. I applaud the increased spaces that will benefit children and families in need of such spaces in the long-term. But the opening iteration here comes off terribly sterile and unwelcoming.

Montgomery Sisam did design the current existing building, which albeit being rather basic and utilitarian, is still a reasonably amicable street form along McCaul IMO.

For some starting suggestions, they should go with red brick on the podium and the Henry Street midrise. And look towards solutions on the tower to have it as a more genial presence in the area.
 
The context was a bit different, but there's the 399 Yonge Street project. Which began originally as restoration and a 1 storey addition at the 401 Yonge Street building:

399 Yonge | 252.3m | 75s | Capital Developments | Teeple Architects

Gorgeous restoration of 401 Yonge Street at Yonge/Gerrard planned http://www.ashlarurban.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/401-Yonge-Street.pdf
urbantoronto.ca urbantoronto.ca

Or if you want to count this 3-storey building at the NW corner of Pape & Cosburn, which has since been expropriated to be part of the future Ontario Line Cosburn station:

1030 Pape Ave (@ Cosburn, 3s, ?)

NW corner of Pape & Cosburn, and replaces a former 2 storey building where Crow Cleaners used to be.
urbantoronto.ca urbantoronto.ca

Ontario Line: Cosburn Station | 8.75m | 1s | Metrolinx | HDR

Database file coming soon, but in the meantime, here is the first rendering:
urbantoronto.ca urbantoronto.ca

I thought we had at least 1 or 2 more direct examples floating around somewhere in the city, but I can't quite recall what they are exactly. Or that might be it afterall.
 
Is this not severely wasteful to redevelop this already though? Especially for a charity? If I was a major donor to the present 240 McCaul building, I would probably be quite upset. How much did that building cost anyway?
 

First resubmission on this file with a 1-storey increase and additional revisions
Architectural Plans - 2026-05-01T101755.431-01.jpg
 
Details of the above:

1778076204971.png

1778076246904.png

***

1778076354249.png

1778076385617.png


Comments:

1) The revised height on Henry (4s rather than 6s) is welcome, and a better fit, the added floor on McCaul is fine.

2) The colour remains appalling for a building aimed at children and families this architectural expression here is dour. I'm not saying we need to be posh/fancy here; but warm and welcoming yes.
Ditch the black/grey colour scheme and go warm-toned.

3) Scale/context......when first proposed, the height here really stood out. But what most of you should know, but didn't pay much attention to, is the new thread I created for the land immediately to the north, owned by the U of T. It will be home to a new undergrad residence, and it will be taller than this..... MUCH taller.

167-171 College St (University of Toronto, ?s, ?)

The current Communications House building at the south-west corner of McCaul and College is set to be approved as a new Undergraduate Residence site for the University of Toronto. The relevant report is headed to the next meeting of the University's Planning and Budget Ctte...
urbantoronto.ca urbantoronto.ca
 
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