Fusing residential, commercial, retail, and service properties creates an engaging environment with things to do day and night. Walkable neighborhoods bring people together, create life on the streets, and make good neighborhoods, not just good buildings.
Transit oriented developments (TODs) are emerging as vibrant urban neighborhoods, with strong gateways that ensure connectivity within and through the surrounding areas while ensuring streets, parks, and open space are "placemakers." In Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, the expansion of the VivaNext bus network and addition of a new subway station created an opportunity to transform this area into a dynamic urban hub.
Among the many design principles of high-quality design to create spaces with distinct character, is the directive to use unique, characteristic and high-quality materials that will harmonize with the architectural design and reduce long-term maintenance and life-cycle costs. The high-quality materials used for streetscapes, parks, and open spaces set the precedence for the quality of built forms within the community.
Unilock® Promenade™ Plank Paver was chosen for its shape, lending to trendsetting patterning, while the Series™ finish was chosen for its outstanding surface durability. Unlike standard thru-mix pavers, the Series finish will only look more beautiful as it wears, exposing more of the product’s natural granite and quartz aggregates.
Although the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is in the early stages of its planned 30 city blocks, the first building features an elongated public park that will stretch across the heart of the area. Its stunning paving pattern has set the stage for future phases, and will serve to visually knit together the new downtown.
For more information, visit unilock.com.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | Jul 19, 2022
Engineering Solutions for a More Inclusive Community
Affordable housing complex uses engineered wood to keep construction costs low, tackle a public predicament and give rise to a stronger, more inclusive community.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 14, 2022
Multifamily rents rise again in June, Yardi Matrix reports
Average U.S. multifamily rents rose another $19 in June to edge over $1,700 for the first time ever, according to the latest Yardi® Matrix Multifamily Report.
Building Team | Jul 7, 2022
Amenity-rich rental property in Chicago includes seven-story atrium with vertical landscaping
The recently opened 198-unit Optima Lakeview luxury rental apartment building in Chicago is bursting with amenities such as the region’s first year-round rooftop pool, contact-free in-home package delivery, housekeeping services, on-site room service, fitness programming, and a virtual personal assistant.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 6, 2022
The power of contextual housing development
Creating urban villages and vibrant communities starts with a better understanding of place, writes LPA's Matthew Porreca.
Green | Jun 22, 2022
The business case for passive house multifamily
A trio of Passive House experts talk about the true costs and benefits of passive house design and construction for multifamily projects.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 21, 2022
Two birds, one solution: Can we solve urban last-mile distribution and housing challenges at the same time?
When it comes to the development of both multifamily housing and last-mile distribution centers, particularly in metropolitan environments, each presents its own series of challenges and hurdles. One solution: single-use structures.
Sponsored | HVAC | Jun 14, 2022
Healing the urban fabric: The surprising impact of MagicPak HVAC
The Legends at Berry active adult housing complex in St. Paul, Minnesota helped transform a former industrial site into a thriving residential campus. MagicPak All-in-One® HVAC Systems provided the energy-efficient heating needed to handle extreme Minnesota winters while enabling architects to create an inviting home environment—and even qualify for additional funding incentives.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 9, 2022
Cityview's Adam Perry on multifamily housing innovation in the Western U.S.
Adam Perry, SVP of Development and Construction Management with developer Cityview, chats with Multifamily Design+Construction Editor Rob Cassidy about the latest design and construction innovations for multifamily housing in the West.