As the successful proponent in a national competition, Bird Construction and its team presented a redevelopment solution to the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto that met all critical criteria. At the heart of the proposal was a solution that kept the central office functions on the same property that they had occupied for over 50 years. By rezoning the property for both their use and residential, and by increasing density on the property Bird was able to ensure that the project was secured by the value of the residential density.

The Child Welfare Centre is a seven-storey office building with three levels of underground parking for 182 vehicles. One of the unique opportunities was the reduction of parking requirements to accommodate current zoning standards. The sharing of parking with the future residential development and the proximity of public transit enabled overall parking on the site to be reduced significantly.

The Child Welfare Centre was constructed on a tight site directly adjacent to a historically significant building, which necessitated a carefully managed and monitored shoring program. Bird completed both the building shell and the tenant improvements within the owner’s time frame and budget.