The Bright Building

The European lifestyle comes to midtown Kitchener. For those looking for a taste of ‘hygge’- the Danish term for a contented sense of wellbeing – the new 18-storey condo tower at 741 King Street West is designed to epitomize stylish coziness and effortless comfort. As project manager for this construction management contract, Martin Simmons Sweers took full responsibility for ensuring the developer’s tight deadlines were met.

Common areas are decked out with warm materials, such as wood, and bright, warm colours, and furnishings. Residents will have access to spaces for remote working, lounges, and - in true Scandi style - saunas located on massive shared balconies and roof terrace. All 228 units are outfitted to appeal to the style conscious buyer looking for their own one- or two-bedroom oasis amidst the bustle of central Kitchener.

The Bright Building façade boasts an eye-catching mixture of textured and stained concrete with aluminium framed window and door systems. Decorative metal panel canopies with wood soffits and warm accent lighting balance these contemporary, hard surfaces. The result is a high level of design quality, particularly difficult to achieve with a total precast concrete structure.

The Bright Building is also one of the first all-electric multi-residential buildings in Ontario. No natural gas or other fossil fuels are used to heat or cool the indoor environment, or heat water in the units. Each unit is equipped with air-source heat pumps for heating and cooling, on-demand water heaters, and dimmable lights, and each parking spot is equipped with an electric vehicle charger. Innovative smart technology enables residents to monitor their power consumption and remotely control lighting and heating. From the outset of this project, Scott Higgins from HIP Developments was clear on his vision, and it was an exciting challenge for our team to undertake.