Wellington St | 05 Unit Conversion
St. Thomas
Property Type: Existing 2-Storey 4-Plex
Scope of Work: Interior Alterations to Convert 4 Units into 5 Legal Residential Units
Project Overview:
This project involved the conversion of a vacant 4-unit building into a fully legal 5-unit residential building in St. Thomas. The building was nearly gutted to the studs before our involvement, offering both opportunity and complexity. Our design team was brought in mid-process after the investor parted ways with their original firm— a common scenario where our expertise in navigating code compliance and design clarity brings projects back on track.
Scope & Strategy:
Converted unused basement area into a new bachelor unit while retaining essential service room functions
Redesigned the remaining floor layouts (ground and second floors) into functional bachelor-style units, maximizing rentability and privacy
Created new internal layouts tailored to the stripped-down condition of the building shell
Ensured each unit met Ontario Building Code (OBC) minimums for natural light, egress, room sizing, and fire separation
Challenges Solved:
Navigated a grey area of the OBC: while technically an existing building, extensive interior demolition risked reclassifying the project under stricter Part 9 "new construction" rules
Successfully argued and applied OBC Part 11 for existing buildings, saving the investor significant time and cost
Took over from a prior design firm and restored project momentum with a revised design strategy and compliant permit drawings
Investor Benefits:
Added an entirely new unit without altering the building’s exterior or gross floor area
Enhanced future rent potential by designing flexible bachelor units with defined bedroom spaces
Avoided triggering site plan approval or change-of-use zoning complications
Preserved existing shell to control construction cost while increasing building value
Current Status:
Permit approved. Construction completed.
Multi-Unit, Legal Suite, Fourplex, Bachelor Units