Guelph officials have selected an Ottawa-based real estate developer to turn a parking lot and several existing buildings in the southern Ontario city into a mixed-use development featuring a new central library.
Under the agreement, which was endorsed by Guelph councillors earlier this month, Windmill will own and develop a pair of residential buildings – containing a total of 275 units – and commercial components of the project while working with the city to develop the library, parking facilities and public spaces in an area known as the “Baker District.”
Windmill beat out three other shortlisted teams from HOK, Turner Fleischer Architects and Triovest Realty Advisors.
Locally, Windmill is known for several condo developments, including the Currents above the Great Canadian Theatre Co. and The Eddy, both on Wellington Street West. The firm also developed the Christ Church Cathedral residential and office project on the west end of Sparks Street and initiated the Zibi redevelopment on the former Domtar lands overlooking the Ottawa River. That project is now spearheaded by Theia Partners and Toronto-based Dream Unlimited.
Windmill’s team includes Diamond Schmitt Architects and DTAH. Windmill’s sister strategic consulting company, Urban Equation, will also design a sustainability framework based on the One Planet Living principles.