Loft space was once hard to come by at St. Clair and Avenue Road, but Camrost has changed the game with their Imperial Plaza project.

After opening in 1957, the Imperial Oil Building at 111 St Clair West quickly became one of Toronto’s most iconic skyscrapers. After the company relocated to Calgary, Camrost converted the Imperial Oil Building into a unique residential community with two storeys of immaculately put together lofts.

With 24 suites on the eighth floor and 30 suites on the ninth floor, the lofts boast two storey layouts, ceilings that really soar (up to 16 feet), views of the city that are tough to match and the option to combine units. And though the building is still in the process of being converted, the interiors are stunning. Check out some photos from our construction tour below…


Windows were being installed on the ninth floor.

Ceilings in open areas on the ninth floor will top off at 16 feet. Now that’s what we call soaring…

Looking toward the downtown core from the ninth floor.

Taking the stairs down a level, we scoped out the eighth floor. These suites are going to be wicked when they’re finished.

Unfinished conversions make great opportunities to check out the insides of historic buildings.

Window washers were hard at work cleaning the new loft-sized windows.

We managed to get up to the roof where the impressive penthouse suites are located. Here’s the view the residents will enjoy looking toward the north.

Imperial Plaza Lofts range from 730 sq. ft. to 1510 sq. ft. and are priced from $469,900. Register today for exclusive access at 16footlofts.ca. For even more info call 416 925 2501 or email live@imperialcondos.ca.

Real loft living is hard to come by in Toronto. Although many new developments claim loft-style features, only former industrial spaces that have been converted to work or living spaces are worthy of the true ‘loft’ title.

Last Friday, the NewInHomes.com team went on a very cool behind the scenes tour of Camrost-Felcorp’s Imperial Plaza – specifically, the 8th and 9th floors, the future home of Imperial Plaza Lofts (check out our pics of the incredible raw space).


First off, a little history lesson. The building at 111 St. Clair Ave. West that is now referred to as Imperial Plaza was the site of the former Imperial Oil Headquarters, which was constructed in 1957. Standing 23 storeys, the Imperial Oil building was the tallest in Toronto when it was first completed. Its limestone facade with bronze window casements, and its dramatic marble and granite lobby made it a drastic departure from the art-deco architecture style that was more common at the time.

Over 50 years ago, the Imperial Oil building was recognized as one of the most remarkable towers in Toronto. It was a standing testament to the classic international style, Modernism, and the city’s vibrancy during the ‘50s. Now thanks to Camrost-Felcorp, its legacy will remain.

The behind the scenes tour of this iconic building in transition, was pretty amazing. We were lucky enough to be there for the installation of new sleek loft windows, which were a cool sight themselves. The soaring panelled windows maintain that minimalistic feel reminiscent of the ‘50s.

When completed, The Imperial Plaza Lofts will feature two-storey layouts and ceiling heights up to 16 feet. The two-storey loft layouts are strategically designed to optimize space while maintaining a healthy level of intimacy throughout the living areas, offering purchasers a distinct separation between private spaces and entertaining areas. For larger units, the bedrooms are strategically placed on multiple levels for additional privacy and separation.

There will be a total of 54 lofts at Imperial Plaza, with 24 on the 8th floor, and 30 on the 9th. Soon, these floors at Imperial Plaza will boast some of the most luxurious loft spaces in all of Toronto with impressive interior features and finishes including glass railings, wood-finished staircases, custom designer European style cabinetry, stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, imported porcelain or ceramic tiling, and much more.

The lofts at Imperial Plaza are completely raw at the moment, but very soon, they’ll look a little something like this!

Imperial Plaza Lofts range from 730 sq. ft. to 1510 sq. ft. and are priced from $469,900. Register today for exclusive access at 16footlofts.ca

To celebrate our new Instagram profile, we’re debuting our BuzzBuzzGram, with the best on-the-go snaps of the week. Remember those candy-laden Valentine grams you received in fifth grade in varying amounts, depending on your popularity? Think of this feature as a miniature valentine from us to you, minus the i’s dotted with hearts and questionable grammar.

So relax and let the beauty of these real estate, design and general urban living shots wash over you. Click on each photo to get more info. We hope the BuzzBuzzGram gives you the same sugar-rush of glee as receiving a “2 cute 2 b 4gotten” note from your first crush.

Loft windows at Imperial Plaza in Toronto.

Taken on the 9th floor of Imperial Plaza.

Looking a little noirish during the snowstorm, NYC.

Times Square always looks best in mist or snow.

Of course love is the answer; happy weekend!

Price range: $2,815,000 to $3,918,000 (for the new penthouses only)
Location: Yorkville Avenue and Avenue Road, Toronto

With the new Four Seasons Hotel now open in Yorkville, the former location is being converted into The New Residences of Yorkville Plaza, a condominium that will integrate much of the building’s original architecture, refurbishing it with glass accents and a two-storey glass podium.

Builder/developer Camrost-Felcorp

What’s new A new collection of penthouses

Building 31 storeys

Suites Two-bedroom penthouses, with customizations available.

Size 1,920 to 2,700 square feet

Occupancy 2014

Features Penthouses will have ceiling heights of up to 11 feet; wide-plank engineered wood flooring; natural stone or quartz countertops; and Wolf, Sub-Zero and Miele appliances.

Amenities The project will feature fitness facilities, a dining room/board room, and a multi-purpose room with audio-visual equipment.

Standouts The site is located close to Yorkville’s restaurants and shops.

Sales office Located at 162 Cumberland Ave., Unit 49, Toronto. Open Monday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. Call 416-966-3003 or visit yorkvilleplaza.com.

All eyes in Yorkville have recently been focused on the grand opening of the new Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences on Bay Street. As the dust settles, we thought it might be appropriate to draw your attention back to the old Four Seasons on Avenue Road, currently deep in the process of being renovated to become the new Yorkville Plaza. Developed by Camrost-Felcorp, the project will see the extensive retro fitting of the iconic 1970′s tower at Yorkville and Avenue Road, while a proposed new tower designed by WZMH Architects at Cumberland and Avenue would rise where the current demolition is taking place.

Demolition of the south podium seen from the southwest, image by urbandreamer

Demolition of the south podium has already begun, with the concrete cladding being peeled away to reveal the extensive substructure that has held in place.

Demolition of south podium seen from the northwest, image courtesy of Camrost-Felcorp

The podium wraps around the southeast corner of the brutalist tower, fronting Avenue, Yorkville and Cumberland. The Yorkville section is being disconnected from the tower in the image below. Camrost-Felcorp is planning to build another tower on this site.

Demolition of northeast podium on Yorkville Ave, image courtesy of Camrost-Felcorp

Proposed new 10-storey tower on Yorkville, image courtesy of Camrost-Felcorp

Up on the tower workers have been busy enclosing the balconies, installing new windows and gutting the rooms in order to update the building for residential use and install brand new interiors.

Project rendering for Yorkville Plaza, image courtesy of Camrost-Felcorp

The Yorkville Plaza development will when complete comprise 3 buildings; a 10-storey building on Yorkville, a taller building at Cumberland and Avenue, and the existing 31-storey tower at Yorkville and Avenue. Sales are underway for the existing tower, with a new release of fourth floor terrace suites having recently come to the market. For more information on Yorkville Plaza head over to our dataBase listing below, and join the conversation on the associated project thread.

At Etobicoke’s California Condos, where suites start at $225,900, great design reigns

Young professionals and downsizers with “a certain taste on a certain budget” will be drawn to the LaJolla model suite at California Condos, says designer Andrew Bottecchia. The designer of Bottecchia Artistic Group worked on the 975-square-foot unit alongside the Design Agency. At the suite, a clean and contemporary look prevails: The feel is fresh and inviting, with a neutral palette punctuated by pops of red. Glass tabletops and limited accessorizing keep sightlines open, for an airy and uncluttered ambiance. “We didn’t want to overdress the space,” Mr. Bottecchia says. “It’s just nice clean lines and comfortable.” Remaining suites at the Camrost-Felcorp site range from 455 to 975 square feet and are priced from $225,900 to the mid-$500,000s. The sales office is located at 185 Legion Rd. N., Terrace Level, Etobicoke. It’s open Monday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 416-251-8888 or visit californiacondosto.ca.

1. “They don’t just look great, but they’re actually comfortable,” Mr. Bottecchia says of the dining room chairs from Casalife (most of the furniture in the model is from there). The chairs feature pressed plywood seats, stained charcoal with natural wood edges
   
   
2. Sideboard or desk? This multi-functional wenge table, featuring contrasting white lacquered drawers, can be either or. Above it, a silkscreen from Telegramme Prints brings a pop of red to the dining area.
   
   
3. The hood fan is a special focal point in the kitchen, setting off the glossy cabinetry below. Featuring a pronounced grain, the cabinets “are reminiscent of a zebra or tiger-stripe wood,” the designer explains.
   
   
4. “It has a great retro feel,” Mr. Bottecchia says of this cream-and-chrome slipper chair. And it swivels around — perfect for parties. “If you’re entertaining and someone is sitting on the chair, they can turn around and talk to you while you’re in the kitchen,” he says.
   
   
5. Mr. Bottecchia knew he wanted all eyes to go to the views outside the windows, and chose these natural linen drapes to frame the vistas and draw attention their way. “They anchor the room and bring a little more warmth to the space,” the designer says.
   
   
6. “I love arch lamps,” Mr. Bottecchia says. “They’ve had such a strong comeback.” This version from Casalife “is just a great pop of red,” he adds.

Banking on the steady growth of high-end real estate in Toronto, Camrost-Felcorp is now launching what it calls luxury “mansions in the sky”, with the new release of Imperial Plaza Sky penthouses.

Camrost-Felcorp has partnered with custom homebuilder and designer Joe Brennan of Brennan Custom Homes Inc., to give purchasers the opportunity to custom design up to 10,000 sq. ft. of upscale living space in the former Imperial Oil building at 111 St. Clair West.

“Anything you would design in a luxury home you can have here,” says Brennan. From open concept to classic formal, contemporary to high-tech, Brennan will work one-on-one with penthouse purchasers to design and build out each space to their exact specifications and style.

Double height libraries with skylights, home theatres with screens that span entire walls, private gyms with squash courts, kitchens with walk-in pantries, wine cellars, and up to 4,000 sq. ft. of outdoor living space equipped with bars, outdoor kitchens and living areas are some of the possibilities.

“This is about upscaling not downsizing,” says Brennan. “When you build a custom mansion in the sky you are creating an environment where you can truly spend your time doing the activities you enjoy the most. But because this is a penthouse, your sense of space and light is enhanced.”

Framed by a three-storey glass podium and oversized terraces, Imperial Plaza Sky penthouse homeowners are surrounded by vistas that extend across Southwestern Ontario.

The penthouses are part of Imperial Plaza’s private residence collection that offer homeowners access to exclusive amenity areas including a private lobby with an express elevator and concierge service, as well as a premium lounge and fitness gym.

Custom-designed penthouses range from 3,000 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft. and are priced from $4.1 million to $14 million. The private residences range from 1,100 sq. ft. to 2,800 sq. ft. and are priced from $900,000 to $2.6 million.

The Imperial Plaza presentation centre is located at 111 St. Clair West. To book an appointment, call 416.925.2501 or visit imperialcondos.ca.

When there’s only 7 units left at a condo in a prime location, you know what that means?

That’s right! Time is of the essence to scoop up a suite.

Such is the case at iLoft, the south Etobicoke project by Camrost-Felcorp. With five of the seven units boasting 2 storeys, 17′ ceilings, and open riser staircases, you can bet that this collection won’t be on the market for long. All the suites also feature granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Ooh la la…

Suites are available for immediate occupancy, so if patience isn’t one of your virtues, one of these suites is definitely up your alley.

Residents can also take advantage of the Bayside Sports and Entertainment Centre which features an outdoor pool and running track, indoor and outdoor whirlpools, saunas, and an indoor theatre. And that’s not even the half of it!

The Centre also contains a party room with prep kitchen, billiards room, squash courts, library and an aerobics and yoga studio.

The two storey loft suites are looking spectacular! Five of the seven remaining suites are loft suites.

iLoft is also only a ten minute drive from downtown Toronto. Perfect if you want a little distance between their home and the hustle and bustle. However, when it’s the hustle and bustle you’re craving, you can get into the thick of it in no time thanks to its proximity to the Gardiner Expressway.

Interested? We thought you might be… Find out how to get more info on these seven iLoft suites below!

Call the sales centre at 416 251 8888 or visit the website here. Visit the two model suites by swinging by 185 Legion Road North (4th floor). Get the scoop on iLoft’s sister development, California, here