PostLofts

We are excited to announce PostLofts – a mixed-use development set to bring housing to downtown Oshawa.

A nine-storey mass timber structure will be added to the existing 1950s Canada Post concrete building, retaining its neo-classical façade as the concrete podium. The new 12-storey building will house 219 residential units, with amenities on the ground and basement levels.

The mass timber addition will use a glulam and CLT post and beam structure, preserving the existing façade through interior demolition retention. This allows for roof replacement and the addition of 3 new lateral resisting concrete cores.

The structural updates include retaining the basement, ground, and second floors, along with the neo-classical limestone façade. Existing concrete columns will be reinforced with new cast-in-place concrete and steel, while the lightweight mass timber structure allows for the retention of the existing deep foundations.

Mass timber is our sustainable choice, adding volume while minimizing additional embodied carbon. This “Optoppen” method – or lightweight mass timber vertical extension – reuses the existing concrete building. By utilizing the reserve capacity in the existing foundations, we efficiently support the additional extension weight, further enhancing sustainability.

This project not only revitalizes a decommissioned office space but also underscores a commitment to sustainable design practices by reusing an existing concrete structure and supporting local mass timber suppliers. And in doing so contributes to urban decarbonization targets, densification strategies, more efficient use of existing infrastructure, and embodying the principles of the circular economy.

Renders courtesy of Moriyama Teshima Architects.