LaVerne Apartments
Sitting along the north edge of Allan Gardens, LaVerne Apartments is a surviving example of the early twentieth-century apartment house typology that contributes to and maintains the historic character of the Church–Wellesley Village neighbourhood. The three-storey, flat-roofed building was constructed in 1926 and designed in the Neoclassical style. Originally known as the “LaVerne Apartments,” the building was built for Dr. Oscar A. McNichol and continues to operate as an apartment building.
Giaimo was retained to provide heritage services and unit reconfiguration for the property, including the creation of 11 new residential units from previously underutilized office and storage spaces. The approach maintains the cultural heritage value of the site and its defining attributes, while facilitating its adaptation to support continued residential use.
Location
Toronto, Canada
Start Date
2025
Status
Construction
Type
Densification
Renovation
Process
To introduce new residential units within the existing building, the design process was guided by both the constraints and opportunities presented by the existing structure. The resulting suites consist primarily of generous bachelor and one-bedroom units, with layouts informed in part by the structural walls at the lower level.
Working closely with the structural engineer, the design team minimized interventions to the existing structure while strategically introducing new window openings at the lower level to align with those above, improving daylight access and establishing a consistent exterior rhythm. Interior layouts were then developed around these openings, with mechanical systems carefully reconfigured to maximize natural light and maintain the greatest possible ceiling heights within the new suites.
As the building remained occupied throughout construction, the work also required close coordination with the contractor to develop a phased construction strategy that minimized disruption to residents while allowing the renovations to proceed efficiently.
Laverne Apartments, exterior of entrance detail, College Street, for Dr. O.A. McNichol (City of Toronto Archives, 1927)
