Market Square

Luxury Condominium lobby and facade renovation
Historic District, Toronto

Located across from the iconic St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto’s historic district, the South Lobby of Market Square Condominiums presented an exciting opportunity to carry forward the building’s evolving, progressive design spirit. While the Market Square Complex itself was constructed in the 1980s, its original architecture drew inspiration from the surrounding 1800s heritage buildings — from the textured brickwork and classical rooflines to the detailed façades and refined proportions of landmarks like the Gooderham Building and St. Lawrence Market. These historic elements were reinterpreted through lighter-shaded bricks, playful indentations, and contemporary profiles, giving the building a modern flair while remaining rooted in Toronto’s architectural legacy.

Our redesign continues this forward-looking approach, introducing contemporary elements that uplift the space while respecting the building’s original interpretation of its heritage context. Soft, curvaceous wall-hung panels were engineered to attach beyond existing surfaces, allowing flexibility and reversibility without impacting the building’s integrity. Each material, finish, and form was carefully curated to complement and celebrate the dialogue between the original 1980s reinterpretation and our contemporary interventions.

Signature elements were thoughtfully repurposed to honor memory and character, such as the solid bronze Pegasus door handles transformed into a wall sconce behind the Concierge desk — a subtle nod to the building’s past for residents. Bespoke furniture pieces, designed to meet Fire-Rated compliance, add another layer of refinement and contemporary flair, reinforcing the lobby’s functional and aesthetic success.

Executing this project required meticulous attention to detail and collaboration with multiple consultants and the Board. Every decision — from spatial layout to material selection — was reviewed, tested, and refined to ensure quality, durability, and harmony with the neighborhood’s heritage spirit.

The result is a lobby that celebrates the evolution of design in a heritage context. Market Square South Lobby now stands as a space where the building’s original reinterpretation of historic Toronto is carried forward, enhanced, and thoughtfully modernized — bridging past influences and contemporary design to serve residents and the community with elegance, functionality, and enduring relevance.