The pandemic has altered our work and life patterns, and has also opened up a chance to reconsider the function of office skyscrapers in our urban areas. Many office structures are now empty or underutilized, as more workers choose to work from home or in flexible arrangements. Meanwhile, the GTA faces a housing shortage and a climate crisis, which demand immediate and creative solutions.
One possible solution is to convert office towers into housing, which would have multiple benefits for the GTA. According to a recent study by the Canadian Urbanism Institute, this idea is feasible and beneficial for Canadian cities. Some Toronto developers, such as Hullmark, are interested in creating more housing supply through office conversions, but they face regulatory barriers from the city, which requires that any office space that is removed must be replaced.
In Canada, several cities are considering converting offices into housing to address the housing shortage and high office vacancy rates. According to a report by the Canadian Urban Institute, there are approximately 130 buildings with 16 million sq. ft of space that could potentially be converted into over 18,000 units of housing. The process of converting an office building into a residential one can be challenging and depends on several factors such as the age of the building, its size, and the number of windows it has.
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One example of a successful office-to-residential conversion project is the Cube building in Calgary, which was converted into a residential rental block. The project cost $25 million and is now home to several tenants.
The benefits of converting office towers into housing for the GTA are:
- More housing supply and affordability: Converting offices into homes would increase the supply of housing in the city, especially in the central business district, where housing is scarce and expensive. It would also offer more diversity and choice for residents, who could live in different types of buildings and neighbourhoods.
- Less congestion and pollution: Converting offices into homes would reduce the pressure on the transportation system, as fewer people would need to travel to and from the downtown core. It would also encourage more active and sustainable modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, and transit, as people would live closer to their amenities and destinations. This would lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
- Better quality of life and well-being: Converting offices into homes would improve the quality of life and well-being of residents, as they would have more access to natural light, fresh air, and green space. It would also foster more social interaction and community engagement, as people would live in mixed-use and vibrant areas.
Converting office towers into housing is not a new idea, but it has gained new relevance and urgency in the wake of the pandemic. It is a win-win solution that would address both the housing and climate crises, and revitalize the downtown core. It is time for the city to change its rules and support this transformation.
