Ontario Construction News staff writer
Phase Two of Aoyuan International’s M2M development, the two-tower M2M SQUARED will include almost 46,000 sq. ft. of community centre space and 11,000 sq. ft. of daycare facilities at its base, which also features indoor and outdoor play zones that promote tactile and sensory exploration.
“Our intention with M2M from the very beginning was to create a true family-oriented community,” Fan Yang, general manager Canada, Aoyuan International said in a statement.
“We wanted to develop a project that would bring families peace of mind knowing they would have convenient access to parks, childcare and other recreational amenities.
Suites will include one, two and three-bedrooms, and will also incorporate two-storey townhomes.
Yang, the general manager overseeing the M2M condo project at the former Newtonbrook Plaza site in North York, says the development addresses a major gap in housing in Toronto — a shortage of family-oriented units.
“We also looked at our suite designs, how units’ efficiency and functions could be maximized, so that families could actually live in our community and feel comfortable living in an urban part of the city.”
The massive mixed-use condo project in North York, near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue that will feature a large number of three- and two-bedroom units.
The final plan includes about 1,800 units and five buildings on the 8.6-acre site. Aoyuan, which specializes in managing property development in cities including Vancouver, Hong Kong, Sydney, Australia and Toronto, and has more than 200 projects in 30 cities, plans for M2M to have almost 60 per cent of units in the buildings be two bedrooms and up.
Plans also include a range of indoor and outdoor recreational spaces – a fitness centre, yoga and dance studio, hobby room, children’s playroom, two co-working lounges with dedicated rooms for video calls and meetings, multipurpose entertainment lounge, games room and party lounges.
Outdoor spaces will include a swimming pool and wading pool with playful pebble seating, shaded lounge and BBQ areas, as well as a putting green, bocce ball court and outdoor yoga deck and gym.
Toronto-based interior design firm Figure3 used nature-inspired patterns, textures and colours, and natural-looking materials.
Three levels of outdoor green spaces are designed as ‘vertical parks’ and green roofs will offer calming views for tower units.
“Shared outdoors spaces are landscaped with natural materials and native flora to promote wellness, physical exercise, yoga, and meditation,” said Robert Ng, principal, NAK Design Strategies. “M2M’s outdoor spaces give residents a relief from chaotic city life and a sense of belonging within the community.”