Parkside Student Residence is a unique project as it required the conversion from the former Primrose Hotel a 190,000 ft2 pre-cast concrete structure into a new and exciting 619 bed student residence, just steps away from Ryerson University, University of Toronto, OCAD and George Brown College. The HIDI Group worked in partnership with Diamond Schmitt Architects and Knightstone Capital Management to make the 16 million dollar transformation possible.

The scale of the project required the demolition, conversion and construction of multiple units per floor to create adequate student rooms and include common student amenity with kitchen every 4th floor. Kitchen, cafeteria, washrooms, and staff quarters were added to the basement space while on the ground floor an extensive renovation was done create the new student lounge space which included gas fireplace, snack bar, reception area, CACF room, washrooms, bicycle storage, garbage & recycling room. Part of the scope included expansion of the retail tenant space which houses a Tim Horton’s café. The second floor renovation included student lounge space, study rooms, administrative offices, laundry room, fitness rooms, washrooms, and juice bar while the third floor roof required demolition of existing rooftop change rooms, infill of existing pool to create sports court and terrace space. The ninth floor was redesign to house laundry facilities.

To achieve the scope of the project required the engagement of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, security, and lighting provided by our speciality lighting division ALULA Lighting Design to be delivered within a 7 month turnaround to be ready for the upcoming 2015 school year.