405 Sherbourne showcases a design partnership between architects—Alliance and Alison Brooks Architects, uniting decades of shared expertise in multi-unit housing in vibrant urban centres. Developed for Toronto Community Housing and CreateTO, the project proposes a generous model of social housing: sustainable, efficient, family-oriented, and rooted in the lived experience of residents. 405 Sherbourne reflects the architects’ shared design ethos: ABA’s commitment to social housing as a foundation for urban regeneration in London, and a—A’s dedication to Toronto housing and city-building. The project advances the conviction that affordable housing can carry architectural, social, and ecological ambition.

The 35-storey tower steps down to 26 storeys and shifts toward Sherbourne Street, creating generous threshold spaces at grade: an intimate residential garden facing Bleecker Street and a new civic space fronting Sherbourne, linked by a landscaped mid-block pedestrian passage. A continuous double height central foyer connects the building's two entrances, landscaped forecourts and streetscapes to create a new neighbourhood link. 405 Sherbourne’s stepped silhouette mediates between the enduring Victorian fabric of historic Cabbagetown and the modern skyline that has emerged along Sherbourne Street.

The façade takes its cue from the mass, depth, and permanence of the neighbourhood’s material culture. Designed to withstand Toronto’s four-season climatic range, it harmonizes with the district’s architectural character through a contemporary expression of brick, stone, arched entrances and bay windows.
Floor plates are planned from the inside out, supporting generous two- and three-bedroom units. Dual-aspect layouts span the building’s full width and draw daylight from two directions, inspired by the generous interiors of a traditional family home.

405 Sherbourne is designed to the Toronto Green Standard, with thermal performance and reduced operational carbon embedded in its compact form, orientation, and envelope strategy.

At ground level, the public realm is prioritized: replacing a former parking lot with a residential garden and public parkette connected by a landscaped mid-block connection. Urban greening reduces hardscaping by 78% while increasing biodiverse ground cover and extending the neighbourhood’s network of safe green spaces. 331 bicycle spaces reflect residents’ need for flexible, affordable transportation. Input from community stakeholders, TCHC, and CreateTO staff is shaping shared spaces that reflect resident needs, support informal gathering, and foster daily connection.