Toronto needs houses—fast—and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panelized construction is proving to be an effective solution.
Consider 35 Bellevue Avenue, a 78-unit supportive housing development, scheduled for spring 2026, in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighborhood designed for rapid construction, energy efficiency and resident well-being.
Designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects, 35 Bellevue Avenue is the first deeply affordable housing project underway in Phase 3 of the City of Toronto’s Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), which will provide 129 units across two sites serving the city’s most vulnerable populations.
Projects like 35 Bellevue Avenue not only provide permanent housing but also integrate support services such as health care, meal programs, and employment resources to help residents achieve long-term stability. Rents are based on income, capped at no more than 30% of a resident’s earnings. “This isn’t just about shelter; it’s about reintegration,” says Daniel Ling, Montgomery Sisam Architects principal.
To speed up delivery, the firm turned to mass timber prefabrication, a shift from earlier RHI projects that used light wood frame modular construction. Unlike the modular approach, where entire box-shaped units are prefabricated offsite and delivered, CLT panels arrive flat-packed with pre-cut window openings and pre-engineered chases for piping, allowing for greater adaptability in design and site constraints. And it’s faster to build. The floors, roof, exterior walls, interior structural walls and even the elevator core are comprised of CLT.
“The superstructure can be completed in a matter of days instead of weeks or months,” says Kevin Hutchinson, principal of Montgomery Sisam Architects.
The benefits of CLT extend beyond flexibility. The material reduces the embodied carbon intensity to around 200-225 CO2e kg/m², significantly lowering the project’s carbon footprint. Also, the building envelope design achieves a thermal energy demand intensity (TEDI) of just 28.8 kWh/m²/year, making it highly energy efficient. The structure’s green roof and solar panel system further reinforce its sustainability credentials. That’s important as Toronto’s sustainability goals stand among some of North America’s most progressive.
“We need to build about 1.3 million additional homes by 2030 to meet projected demand,” Ling says. “At the same time, housing construction is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. This project is an opportunity to move the needle on both fronts.”
Urban Integration and Architectural Sensitivity
Kensington Market is a vibrant, eclectic neighborhood known for its mix of Victorian homes, small businesses, and artistic culture. The design team was conscious of the project’s impact on the existing community. “Kensington has a distinct character—it’s informal, diverse, and full of life," says Hutchinson. “Instead of imposing a monolithic structure, we opted for a courtyard scheme with staggered massing to break up the building’s scale and integrate better with the surrounding streetscape.”
To enhance neighborhood connectivity, the development formalizes a previously informal mid-block pedestrian route. Plus, the deep red standing seam metal cladding was carefully chosen to complement the area’s aesthetics while giving the building a bold identity.
Creating Dignified and Functional Living Spaces
Each of the 300-square-foot studio and one-bedroom units is designed for maximum comfort and functionality. “We prioritized natural light,” Ling says. “Each unit has two windows—a large one in the living space and a smaller one above the bed—ensuring that even compact apartments feel spacious and welcoming.”
Beyond private living spaces, 35 Bellevue Avenue offers communal areas that encourage social engagement while respecting personal boundaries. “We’ve incorporated a community kitchen, lounges, and a dining room that open onto the central courtyard,” Ling says. “Residents can choose their level of interaction, whether they want to cook a meal together, relax in a shared space, or find a quiet spot with a view.”
By balancing speed, sustainability, and sensitivity to urban context, 35 Bellevue Avenue proves that high-quality supportive housing can be both efficient and architecturally thoughtful.
“This approach is adaptable,” Hutchinson says of the CLT method. “We’re using the same prefabricated components in a second Toronto site, where the context is different, but the need is the same.”
