Amica Senior Residences

Housing & Senior Living

Ongoing

Toronto, Ontario

I had the opportunity to contribute to two senior living projects: Amica Balmoral and Amica Islington Village, both of which offer high-end, contemporary residences for seniors in the Toronto area.

Amica Balmoral is a premium retirement community located between Forest Hill and Rosedale in midtown Toronto. This 13-story building features 147 luxury units and offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care options. The design is centered around a south-facing courtyard, with ground-floor amenities that include a dining room, bistro, and craft kitchen, all benefiting from ample natural light and direct access to outdoor spaces. The upper floors host additional amenities such as a library, conservatory, outdoor deck, gym, juice bar, dental suite, physio room, salon, and pool. A double-height penthouse lounge provides residents with panoramic city views. The architectural design takes inspiration from the Park Avenue residences of New York City, with stepped terraces serving as a transition between neighboring homes and apartment buildings. An elegant grand porch animates the street frontage along Avenue Road, creating a buffer from the busy thoroughfare while inviting interaction with the public. This innovative redevelopment offers a meaningful ‘aging-in-place’ solution for seniors in urban Toronto.

Amica Islington Village is located in the heart of Etobicoke, at the corner of Dundas St. West and Burnhamthorpe Rd. This mid-rise development ranges from 4 to 10 stories and features 210 suites, providing memory care, assisted living, and independent living options. The building is designed to integrate seamlessly with the vibrant Islington Village community, surrounded by boutique shopping, dining spots, parks, and public transit. The ground floor includes publicly accessible amenities such as a restaurant, bar bistro, café, salon, and other retail spaces. More private, resident-focused amenities—such as a pool, gym, and health & wellness facilities—are located in the landscaped courtyards. A large second-floor terrace offers additional space for residents to relax in a beautifully landscaped environment. The building also offers underground parking, a multipurpose room/theatre, a billiards/games room, greenhouse, library, and a craft kitchen with a private dining room. Architecturally, the design draws inspiration from the 1946 Georgian Revival Etobicoke Township Hall, incorporating its heritage style into the new development, particularly through the bar bistro, which serves as a nod to the building’s history as a community hub. The facility’s design ensures seniors can age in place, with a dedicated memory care floor featuring 32 secure suites for seniors with dementia or memory loss, as well as specialized amenities such as lounges, a large dining space, and a landscaped memory care terrace. Additionally, 80 assisted living suites are available, offering a higher level of care for those requiring assistance with daily activities.

Both projects reflect Amica’s commitment to providing luxury residences with a full continuum of care, allowing seniors to live comfortably and safely while aging in place.

The project is designed in collaboration with Montgomery Sisam Architects.