MOD Developments: A Creative and Innovative Developer and Builder in the GTA
MOD Developments is a relatively new developer and builder in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that specializes in urban developments that revitalize the cityscape and enhance the quality of life. Founded in 2009 by Gary Switzer and Noorez Lalani, MOD Developments has a vision of creating projects that are architecturally distinctive, culturally significant and environmentally sustainable.
Notable Projects
MOD Developments has developed and built several projects across the GTA, ranging from mid-rise to high-rise condos, with a focus on heritage preservation, adaptive reuse and design excellence. Here are some examples of their past and present projects:
Massey Tower: A 60-storey condo tower with 699 units of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, located in the Downtown Core neighbourhood, near Yonge Street and Queen Street West. The project features a restored heritage bank building as its podium, a fitness centre, a piano bar, a rooftop terrace and a 24-hour concierge service.
Waterworks: A 13-storey condo building with 299 units of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, located in the Fashion District neighbourhood, near Richmond Street West and Spadina Avenue. The project features a restored heritage public works building as its podium, a food hall, a fitness centre, a rooftop pool and a 24-hour concierge service.
55C Bloor Yorkville Residences: A 48-storey condo tower with 551 units of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, located in the Yorkville neighbourhood, near Bloor Street East and Church Street. The project features a sculptural design, a fitness centre, a lounge, a party room and a 24-hour concierge service.
The Massey Harris Lofts: A six-storey condo building with 46 units of one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts, located in the King West neighbourhood, near King Street West and Strachan Avenue. The project features a restored heritage industrial building as its facade, exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and high ceilings.
Achievements and Features
MOD Developments has been recognized for its quality, design and innovation by various industry awards and certifications. Some of their achievements and features include:
BILD Awards: MOD Developments has won multiple awards from the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), which represents the land development, home building and professional renovation industry in the GTA. MOD Developments has won the Project of the Year Award (2013) for Five St. Joseph; the Best High-Rise Building Design Award (2013) for Five St. Joseph; the Best Suite Design Award (2014) for Massey Tower; the Best High-Rise Building Design Award (2017) for Massey Tower; and the Best High-Rise Building Design Award (2019) for Waterworks.
LEED Certification: MOD Developments has achieved or is pursuing LEED certification for several of its projects, which demonstrates their commitment to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is a globally recognized green building rating system. Some of MOD Developments’ LEED certified or registered projects are Five St. Joseph (LEED Gold), Massey Tower (LEED Gold), Waterworks (LEED Silver) and 55C Bloor Yorkville Residences (LEED Silver).
Heritage Preservation: MOD Developments has been praised for its efforts to preserve and restore heritage buildings and integrate them into their projects, which adds to the cultural value and character of the city. MOD Developments has worked with renowned heritage consultants such as ERA Architects to ensure that their projects respect the history and context of their sites. Some of MOD Developments’ heritage preservation projects are Massey Tower (the Canadian Bank of Commerce Building), Waterworks (the City Water Works Building) and The Massey Harris Lofts (the Massey Harris Building).
Potential for Growth
MOD Developments continues to expand its presence and portfolio in the GTA market, with several upcoming projects in various stages of development. Some of them are:
1 Yorkville: A 58-storey condo tower with 577 units of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, located in the Yorkville neighbourhood, near Yonge Street and Bloor Street East. The project features a striking design, a fitness centre, a spa, a rooftop terrace and a 24-hour concierge service.
55 Mercer: A 47-storey condo tower with 543 units of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, located in the Entertainment District neighbourhood, near King Street West and Spadina Avenue. The project features a fitness centre, a lounge, a party room and a 24-hour concierge service.
The Bond: A 42-storey condo tower with 393 units of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, located in the Entertainment District neighbourhood, near Adelaide Street West and John Street. The project features a fitness centre, a lounge, a terrace and a 24-hour concierge service.
The GTA is one of the most desirable and dynamic real estate markets in Canada, with strong demand for housing driven by population growth, immigration, urbanization and economic activity. MOD Developments is well-positioned to capitalize on this demand with its creative and innovative projects that offer quality, design and value to its customers. MOD Developments is not only a developer and builder, but also a city-builder that contributes to the vitality and diversity of the GTA.