Opportunity

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto is addressing a critical housing gap for women, particularly those who have experienced conflict with the law, incarceration, and ongoing challenges related to poverty, through the development of supportive housing at 215 Wellesley Street East in downtown Toronto. Located on an exceptionally tight infill site in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, the project delivers 48 units of dignified, supportive housing designed to foster stability, rehabilitation, and reintegration within the urban core.

Response

The eight-storey, 25,026-square-foot building is being delivered through an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) construction model, enabling close collaboration among the owner, designers, builders, and trade partners. Constructed with a mass timber structural system and prefabricated components, the project balances speed, sustainability, and precision; key factors on an active downtown site with limited staging area.

Construction sequencing has been carefully planned to maintain an open delivery corridor throughout most of the build, with enclosure occurring in the final phases. The design emphasizes sustainability and a trauma-informed architectural approach, supporting both environmental performance and the creation of safe, respectful spaces for residents. Mass timber installation plays a central role in meeting ambitious timelines while minimizing disruption within the surrounding community.