AXIA Design

Denarda Gymnasium
Toronto, Canada
2023-24

Toronto, (ON) Canada

Client: Toronto Community Housing

Project start: 2023

Status: Completed, 2024

Gross floor area: 324m²

Architect: AXIA Design Associates

Project team:Chris Wong, Taymoore Balbaa, Michael Good, Leisdania Reynoso, Justine Houseley

Structural engineer: Moses Structural Engineers
MEP engineer: HJ Consulting Engineering,
Ultimate Design Engineering

TCHC has engaged AXIA to provide full-service retrofits for three locations from its existing building portfolio in the GTA. These gymnasiums, located on the ground or basement floors of the existing 1980s and 90s apartment complexes, have suffered various degrees of disrepair throughout the years. These revitalizations are intended to condense and optimize these existing public spaces to create safe and inviting amenity areas for the buildings’ communities. The project scope includes general building repair, spatial reorganization, mechanical and electrical systems upgrade, and completely refurbished interiors. With refreshed material palettes, the designs aim to cultivate a sense of community identity in each building. As part of the community housing program, even though our designs prioritize the practicality and durability of these gymnasiums, we aim to create a renewed sense of warmth and invitation to these often-underutilized areas.

All three sub-projects share similar design scopes and goals, and their renewals are defined by requirements established through different stakeholder and tenant engagement meetings, resulting in a unique design approach and applications within each building. 

Strong cultural identity and a younger tenant base define the community at 30 Denarda. As a result, the interior design features a more playful and colourful architectural expression. Design opportunities with greater community participation, including a multi- storey mural wall, are employed to help foster a sense of belonging. The perforated metal suspended ceiling and wood wall tile finishes are both whimsical and expressive, while practical and functional. These allow for direct mechanical integration and provide effective acoustic dampening to this well used gymnasium.