The proposed design for Parliament & Co, earlier planned as a commercial development, has pivoted to a mixed-use residential project, taking inspiration from Toronto warehouses and artist lofts from the ’60s and ’70s, to offer live-work lofts for business owners and freelancers.

Designed by Kohn Partnership Architects for the developer, The Sher Corporation, the project will be located at the Parliament and Queen Street intersection in Toronto’s historic Corktown neighbourhood. It will carefully balance the heritage of the original building with the contemporary necessities of a modern building, including cutting-edge “smart” spaces and built-in modern technology.

The building is uniquely divided: 279 m² (3,000 sf) of retail on the main level; floors two to five are dedicated commercial lofts, while floors six to 10 are warehouse lofts.Inside the open concept, loft-like spaces feature oversized black steel-framed windows with natural wood benches, whitewashed original brick walls, and architectural concrete floors.

Smart home systems are integrated into the design of the spaces to offer those using the building—whether an office tenant or a resident who is working and living in one of the units—the best of both worlds: the old-world charm and heritage character, with all the bells and whistles of a contemporary build.

One of the standout features of the development is the 11^th floor indoor/outdoor event area—a dramatic glass-enclosed space, which faces the downtown core and offers remarkable views of the city. Retractable walls allow for the glassed area to be completely opened to the outdoor terrace and form a continuity between the indoor and outdoor space.

Other amenities include a relaxation and lounge area, a dog wash area, shower facilities, bicycle storage, meeting rooms, among others.