The Rekai Centre at Cherry Place, Toronto
The Rekai Centre at Cherry Place will bring long-term care to downtown Toronto when it opens in 2028.
Designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects (Toronto), which serves as both architect and interior designer on the project, the 13-story, 348-bed community is designed to support mental health, social connection, and daily engagement with residential units organized into small “neighborhoods.”
Additionally, the design responds to post-pandemic priorities, incorporating proactive infection-control measures such as negative-pressure isolation rooms and oxygen-ready resident rooms.
Architecture, interior design inspiration at The Rekai Centre in Toronto
The building’s design responds to its long, narrow site and proximity to Toronto’s waterfront by drawing on the features of an ocean liner. Terraces, promenade decks, and rooftop therapy gardens echo a ship’s outdoor decks, providing residents with access to fresh air, daylight, and expansive views of the city and lake.
The nautical design also informs the building’s layered, horizontal expression, helping to break down its scale while reinforcing its connection to the surrounding urban and waterfront setting.
Inside, a double-height “boardwalk” corridor links the community to an on-site dialysis clinic and George Brown Polytechnic’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) training program, supporting interaction between residents, students, and clinicians.
The community also features a “Rainbow Wing” designed to provide a welcoming and affirming environment for 2SLGBTQI+ residents, including two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents. The space creates opportunities to build community, maintain meaningful relationships, and connect with chosen family, recognizing the importance of social networks and belonging in later life.
The Rekai Centre at Cherry Place project details
Location: Toronto
Target completion date: May 2028
Owner: The Rekai Centres
Total building area: 260,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: Not disclosed
Cost/sq. ft.: Not disclosed
Architect: Montgomery Sisam Architects
Interior designer: Montgomery Sisam Architects
General contractor: Multiplex
Engineer: Blackwell (structural), Smith and Andersen (mechanical and electrical), Counterpoint (civil)
Builder: Multiplex
Carpet/flooring: Centura
Ceiling/wall systems: Geometrik, Armstrong
Doors/locks/hardware: Allegion
Handrails/wall guards: Construction Specialties
Signage/wayfinding: Artellix
Surfaces, solid/other: Daltile, DuPont, Wilsonart
Project details are provided by the design team and aren’t vetted by Environments for Aging.
