RioCan’s first rental project in Little Italy, Strada, is a celebration of family and the power of community. Live January 2022, Toronto, 95,000 sq. feet, 65 Units.
Strada means street in Italian, a fitting moniker for a new project in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood. The importance of street culture is a cornerstone of Italian life, where groups of old friends gather around formica tables on trattorias to drink Chinotto and deconstruct the latest soccer match. Young couples linger over orecchiette and cannoli, while shoppers pick up fresh produce and the latest happenings.
That Old World feel translates into RioCan’s first rental property, Strada at 555 College Street in Toronto, It will be a new slate of 61 compact living units over eight storeys affording sweeping views of College Street, a rich tapestry filled with cafés, boutiques, butchers, and fruit stands, and the throwback Royal Cinema.
Figure3 wanted to celebrate the neighbourhood and conducted extensive research on the target demographic. “Toronto’s Little Italy has a very unique character, and even though Strada is a new build, we wanted it to fit in seamlessly with the neighbourhood, like it had history,” says Figure3 Principal Dominic De Freitas. To mimic the century buildings nearby, the exterior is a classic red brick facade. “We also felt the neighbourhood has a similar cultural feel to New York’s Little Italy, so we were inspired by some of that native industrial character.”
Toronto’s Little Italy has a very unique character, and even though Stradav is a new build, we wanted it to fit in seamlessly with the neighbourhood, like it had history.
Dominic De Freitas
“It was important for us that the lobby was a social space,” says De Freitas. “With such a unique neighbourhood, we needed to establish an approach that would resonate with the local demographic. After the research process with the RioCan team, individuality and character stood out as main attributes we wanted to express.”
The main lobby incorporates a bustling coffee bar and lounge. Concrete-style floors, antique mirrors, warm, rustic wood, iron chandeliers, and exposed brick walls establish a chic Soho vibe. Antique and modern lighting, plus Victorian-style diamond tufted furniture amplifies the innate vintage character.
“Functional space planning was important, but we also wanted Strada to feel grand. Carving out additional space which was originally designated for retail created more of a social atmosphere in the building’s lobby, which results in a better design solution.” Industrial elements like exposed metal ceiling are tempered by layering in antique mirrors, weathered marble, carved wood panelling and crystal chandeliers. To mimic a varied, patchwood streetscape, the suite doors are different colours.
Strada’s suite design is also geared towards cooking and gathering. Materials that mimic those found in traditional Italian eateries create a stage for socializing and cuisine to play out. Designer features and finishes include full-size slide-in stainless steel appliances and modern touchscreen technology to add urban edge. Paneled kitchen cabinets with cup handles and marble herringbone backsplashes are Old World touches. Rustic-style floors have a reclaimed look, while floating shelves and utility rails are common to old fashioned Italian kitchens, making it easy to grab a pot or spices when cooking a big meal for a crowd.
In addition to a small speakeasy-style lounge on the second floor, a rooftop party space is equipped with a TV, a marble fireplace wall, a party room with a kitchen and big communal tables, plus tufted seating. A large outdoor landscaped terrace of hexagonal tiles is ideal for big gatherings. At the rooftop’s elevator, fabric-inspired embossed porcelain tile with deconstructed images of peacocks and the Italian countryside are an updated take on the grandeur of European palazzos.
“It’s gratifying that a large company such as RioCan cares so much about the people they are building for, says De Freitas. They really are interested in the customer experience and the longevity and timelessness of their work, as is Figure3. It’s a great relationship and we’re excited about our future projects together.”
