The Spark
The Spark is situated at a busy intersection along the Vanier Parkway in the evolving neighbourhood of Vanier. This 9 storey, approximately 45,000 square foot apartment building has 62 units, basement parking, and partial ground floor parking. The building has 'front' entrances both at the corner of Vanier Parkway and McArthur Avenue and on the Gardner Street frontage. The ninth floor is reduced in size, providing a stepping down to the north. The building composition includes 1 and 2 Bedroom units with and without dens. More than half of the units have balconies or rooftop terraces.
The site is well serviced with public transit, walking and biking paths, and a grocery store across the street. Approvals included Site Plan Control, Zoning By-Law Amendment, Urban Design Review Panel, and Heritage Permit.
The building is designed with simple rectilinear forms in two colours of masonry. Rhythmical banding and masonry detailing add character, interest and scale. Although this is not a high-rise, the design uses the tools of base-middle-top to articulate, provide scale and enhance streetscaping.