The Residences are housed in a former 1970’s-era Brutalist hotel, not far from the University of TORONTO, OCAD University, George Brown College and Ryerson University in or near downtown. The precast concrete building now provides beds for 620 and several communal spaces – a gymnasium and cafe among them. <PHOTO ABOVE – Lisa Logan/Contactdesign.com>

Knightstone Capital Management enlisted TORONTO-based Diamond Schmitt Architects to “establish a dialogue with the previous architectural character of the building,” says Bryan Chartier, DSAI’s director of interior design.

Coming this summer – a brightly coloured mural by Spanish street artist OKUDA, on a blank eastern Parkside wall, facing traffic-heavy Jarvis Street at Carlton. The project is a partnership between STEPS (a public art-funding charity), the City of TORONTO’s StreetART program, and Parkside’s property owners. The city will provide $50,000 as part of its Graffiti Management Plan.

For OKUDA’s biography and more examples of his work go to http://www.streetartbio.com/about-okuda-biography