Toronto’s North Riverdale neighbourhood is witnessing a unique fusion of heritage preservation and modern construction with the redevelopment of Danforth Baptist Church. The project, led by McCallum Sather Architects in partnership with Assembly Corporation and WoodGreen Community Services, integrates a new eight-storey mass timber affordable rental building behind carefully retained portions of the early-20th-century church. The design preserves the church’s historic façade while employing low-carbon mass timber construction, a sustainable approach increasingly popular in urban development. (urbantoronto.ca)
Scheduled to rise to 28 metres and deliver 34 affordable rental units, the project demonstrates how cities can balance heritage conservation with modern housing needs. The redevelopment also showcases technical expertise, as crews stabilize and integrate the preserved sanctuary walls while constructing the mass timber superstructure.
Project Overview
The Danforth Baptist Church redevelopment is strategically located at the southwest corner of Danforth Avenue and Bowden Street, an area known for its residential and community-oriented character. The project combines heritage architecture with contemporary mass timber technology, offering an affordable rental solution in a high-demand area.
Key details include:
- Building Height: 28 metres (8 storeys)
- Units: 34 affordable rental apartments
- Construction Method: Mass timber superstructure with glulam beams and large-format decking
- Heritage Preservation: Retained early-20th-century church walls and façade
- Design Team: McCallum Sather Architects with ERA Architects overseeing heritage components
The site’s phased construction ensures that the historic church walls remain intact while new construction rises seamlessly behind them, exemplifying a model for future heritage-sensitive urban development. (urbantoronto.ca)
Construction Progress and Techniques
Construction began with below-grade concrete work, including a single underground level. By December 2025, the project transitioned to installing mass timber columns above grade, supported temporarily by diagonal bracing and timber kickers. Exposed glulam beams and floor decking illustrate a structurally efficient and sustainable approach, reducing the project’s carbon footprint compared to traditional steel and concrete structures.
Additional construction highlights:
- Protective Tyvek and scaffolding to shield the preserved heritage walls
- Use of telescopic hydraulic lifts for safe access to upper portions of the church tower
- Winter tarping to maintain interior work conditions during cold months
- Integration of grade beams and foundation walls with mass timber columns for stability
This construction method not only reduces environmental impact but also speeds up assembly, minimizing disruption in the surrounding community.
Sustainability and Community Impact
The use of mass timber positions this project as a low-carbon construction exemplar. Wood elements are renewable, store carbon, and reduce the overall environmental footprint. Additionally, providing 34 affordable rental units addresses Toronto’s growing housing demand in a historically under-served neighbourhood.
The preservation of the church walls ensures that North Riverdale’s heritage remains visible while residents gain access to modern, sustainable living spaces. Projects like this highlight the potential for combining heritage conservation, affordable housing, and environmentally friendly construction.
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Implications for Toronto Urban Development
The Danforth Baptist Church redevelopment demonstrates several key trends in urban planning:
- Heritage Preservation Meets Modern Housing: Maintaining historical façades while adding modern residential units is increasingly viable with advanced construction techniques.
- Sustainable Construction Growth: Mass timber adoption signals a shift toward environmentally responsible building methods in Toronto.
- Affordable Housing Integration: Small-scale, community-oriented rental projects help meet housing demand without large-scale tower impacts.
Such projects may serve as models for future developments in other heritage-sensitive urban neighbourhoods around.
