Vaughan’s already bustling new city centre keeps on growing

Ground has officially been broken for ArtWalk, the next phase of SmartVMC’s residential development.
Thestar.com
Oct. 27, 2023

Vaughan’s new master-planned city centre, SmartVMC, is one of Canada’s fastest growing communities, expected to become home to 45,000 people by the time it’s complete.

Two office/commercial buildings -- the PwC/YMCA and KPMG towers -- are already complete, while six residential buildings are either occupied or are under construction.

Now, ground has officially been broken for SmartVMC’s next phase, ArtWalk, the 9th and 10th high rise buildings in the community.

The buildings feature world class design -- inside and out -- by Hariri Pontarini Architects, whose vision is to foster a connected ground floor experience, featuring an inner courtyard surrounded by communal amenities, providing residents the opportunity to engage with one another and feel connected to their neighbourhood.

Drawing inspiration from the graceful curves of ArtWalk’s design, those smooth lines are echoed throughout the residential common areas, harmonizing beautifully with a nature-inspired colour palette, providing the perfect canvas for unique architectural details, stunning artwork and captivating lighting installations.

Similar to SmartVMC’s other residential buildings, ArtWalk boasts an enticing list of amenities, including a two floor coworking lounge, library and resident’s café, games lounge, outdoor terraces, rooftop greenhouse, indoor children’s play area, sports simulation lounge, dedicated indoor bike parking and BBQ area.

The units themselves feature spacious balconies, providing private outdoor gathering spaces for dining and entertaining.

ArtWalk’s towers will also include all the smart technology modern residents desire -- WiFi connections in all of the common areas, smart thermostats, smart utility metering, keyless door entry and even a building app for booking amenities, and common areas -- and the entire 12-acres is serviced from a centralized District Energy Plant (DEP), which improves energy efficiency, reduces costs and emissions and enables future green upgrades.

Outside, ArtWalk residents will enjoy easy access to plenty of green space. SmartVMC’s future 9-acre central park, designed by Claude Cormier + Associés, opens just outside the front doors. Construction on Phase 1 of the park is expected to start next year and will be completed prior to occupancy.

While the addition of ArtWalk will certainly support and bolster the growth of SmartVMC the true mixed-use community is already bustling.

In addition to the broad range of world-class employers within walking distance (KPMG, PwC, Miller Thomson, Harley Davidson and GFL, to name a few) a number of stores, banks and restaurants are also starting to pop up, including the first BUCA-branded restaurant outside Toronto’s downtown core and Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, among others.

SmartVMC is home to a new YMCA, daycare, fitness and aquatic facility, as well as a 26,000 square foot creative expression and learning hub and a new 10,000 square foot Vaughan Public Library.

While Vaughan’s new city centre is conveniently close to major thoroughfares, including Highways 7, 400 and 407, ArtWalk itself is one of the most well-located developments within SmartVMC as it is the only location that is adjacent to the 9-acre central park, the future YMCA, as well as TTC subway, which provides a direct connection to TTC Line 1, making it an easy commute to York University, Union Station or Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

A Viva Station is just steps away, providing rapid connection to Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Brampton and a bus terminal directly across the street from SmartVMC serves YRT, GO and Züm.

ArtWalk’s target completion date is the summer of 2027. To register your interest in this master-planned community and receive the latest news and exclusive information, visit artwalkcondos.com.