The Vanguard, Markham, ON

A couple blocks north of Steeles Avenue—Toronto's northern city limit—plans are in motion to replace the two-storey Grandview Plaza at 7089 Yonge Street in Thornhill with a new high-rise development from Devron Developments. Occupying the east side of Yonge on between Woodward and Grandview Avenues, The Vanguard would rise 25 storeys and feature 12, 000 square feet of retail space fronting on Yonge, office suites on the second floor, and condominiums above that range in size from 522 to 1, 379 square feet.
The development's traditionally-inspired design by Kirkor Architects Planners features a limestone and pre-cast exterior envelope with two-tone glazing. “The design of the building seamlessly integrates every element of a great neighbourhood into a single structure." said Cliff Korman, founding partner of Kirkor Architects and Planners. "Every amenity extends living space and connects residents to the community that exists inside and outside of The Vanguard.”
The Vanguard's amenity spaces will appointed by II BY IV Design, including a theatre room, a library, several multi-purpose spaces, and a children's play room that includes a sculptural element and 3D tree designed for play. The development will also offer residents a 7, 000 square foot outdoor terrace featuring community gardens, an outdoor culinary center, dining space, an open lawn, and a screen of trees to provide privacy, all with landscaping by Strybos Barron King.
The development will employ a number of green features to improve overall energy efficiency, including a centralized water filtration system, as well as a fitness facility with exercise bikes that feed electricity back into the power grid. Tesla Destination Chargers will be included on the ground floor, —the first implementation of such technology in the GTA— as well as six additional EV chargers for different makes of electric vehicles. The Vanguard is targeting LEED Gold certification.

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