Theresa Lee — Parkdale Living Centre

A community living centre designed for 1495 Queen Street West in Toronto, nestled between two social housing buildings. The concept started with the idea of a nest — layers that wrap around and shelter, creating a sense of home for the Parkdale neighbourhood. It's a place where people could come together, share ideas, and find the support they needed. That layering idea shaped the building: open community areas along the street front for gathering and connecting, with quieter support services behind, linked by transitional spaces that let people move through at their own comfort level.

Rooftop corridor rendering — colonnade with silhouettes walking toward light

Café rendering — community gathering space looking out to Queen Street through autumn trees

Building model — rear view with hands lifting roof section

Nest concept model — layered shelter form

Neighbourhood context model — Queen Street West block

Streetscape rendering — building facade on Queen Street West with pedestrians and cyclist

Ground floor plan — community areas along Queen Street, support services behind

Building model — Queen Street West frontage detail

Section Aa — building layers from basement to rooftop garden

AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D modelling, Universal Design, AODA compliance

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