The Kingsley Square condominium buildings on Newmarket’s Davis Drive are close to completion, with the first occupants expected in June.
The two 15-storey towers are rising, and enclosing is starting soon, according to principal architect Andrew Muffitt of Kohn Partnership Architects. They will feature 327 condo units, of which 85 per cent were pre-sold.
Muffitt said construction is going well and the buildings are “really starting to come together.”
“We’re very pleased about the execution of the design and that the construction team and ownership managed to retain the initial design intent through a very difficult and challenging period in the industry,” Muffitt said. “We’re very proud to be part of a team that has managed some very difficult circumstances along the way and is now getting close to delivering.”
The condo project at 693 Davis Dr. broke ground in June 2022 after years of the planning process and some resident pushback. The units are being sold for ownership, with features like co-working space, an exterior courtyard that will be open to the public, a rooftop terrace, and other outdoor spaces.
The development's vision was to address residential demand in the community, Muffitt said. The development will also feature a public urban park, which is something that they want to do well for the community.
“The higher density residential was appropriate to meet the needs of the community,” Muffitt said. “The other aspect of it that’s important is that in doing so, we really want to create a significant or meaningful public space.”
The buildings will also feature street-level commercial spaces. Though the exact uses of those spaces are to be determined, Muffitt said it could be something like a cafe.
The building uses a “highly efficient panelized construction system” and aims for a LEED Silver certification for environmentally responsible construction. To achieve this, the building will utilize an "efficient building envelope" to minimize HVAC demands, along with green roofs.
“The ownership group has never wavered in the delivery of the LEED certification." Muffitt said.
The plan is for interim occupancy to start in June as workers complete floors, Muffitt said, with substantive completion happening later next year.
“They are on a very good trajectory right now. Construction is going pretty smoothly,” he said. “There’s some logistics to be managed (with interim occupancy), but the builder in this project is very capable and experienced, and we’re really confident they’ll be able to manage those aspects through the completion.”
It feels wonderful to get the building close to completion, Muffitt said.
“It’s always nice when projects are completed, and you can be proud of them.”
