60 Bowden St. - Affordable Housing

60 Bowden St. in Toronto is a 35,000 sq. ft., 8-storey, 50-unit affordable and supportive housing development that shows how mass timber can deliver housing faster while meeting the complex demands of urban infill and heritage preservation.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor and core panels and Glulam columns form the mass timber structural system built with 7-ply CLT panels on point-supported Glulam columns. Using a panelized approach, the mass timber structure was erected in just nine calendar weeks (41 working days), with crews installing hundreds of panels and columns and thousands of connections with precision and speed. The rapid assembly minimized disruption in the dense neighborhood while maintaining strict quality and safety standards.

The project is built above the retained base of the historic Danforth Baptist Church, preserving the original façade and twin towers while introducing a new mass timber structure above—an elegant blend of heritage and modern construction.

Faster, Lower-Carbon Housing
Beyond speed, the project highlights the sustainability advantages of mass timber. Prefabrication improved coordination, reduced construction waste, and accelerated enclosure, while the use of sustainably sourced wood significantly lowered embodied carbon compared with conventional materials.

Developed for WoodGreen Community Services, the building will provide 50 affordable homes for seniors, one of the fastest-growing demographics in need of housing. The development also includes community-focused amenities such as gathering spaces, a commercial kitchen, landscaped courtyard, and space for church services and a food bank—ensuring the building serves both residents and the broader community.

60 Bowden demonstrates how mass timber and prefabrication can unlock new opportunities for affordable housing, delivering high-quality, low-carbon homes quickly and efficiently in large, urban cities.