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On Site, Op Art Lofts, Oakville, Ont.Neilas Inc.

OPART LOFTS

LOCATION: Oakville, Ont.

BUILDER/DEVELOPER Neilas Inc.

SIZE 440 to 1,172 square feet

PRICE Mid-$200,000s to the $700,000s

CONTACT To register, phone In2ition Realty at (905) 286-5270 or visit www.opartlofts.com

Judging by the prevalence of traditional estates in Oakville, many would assume its residents were firmly attached to the classical architecture of 19th-century Britain.

Developer Jim Neilas thinks otherwise, and he's following through with an art-inspired condominium project designed by Toronto architect Stephen Teeple.

"It's a pretty unique design that looks like it replicates the OpArt movement of the sixties," says Mr. Neilas.

"[Oakville]may seem pretty conservative, but they have a pretty strong art association and art background, and it's where [Sheridan]College is, so they're a pretty sophisticated bunch and they get why design matters."

Utilizing the principals behind the OpArt style, such as highly contrasting colours and abstract forms, Mr. Teeple gave the two-tower project a white pre-cast shell with black mullions and accents and a random distribution of windows and balconies projecting outward and receding inward from the surface.

"It's not your typical glass-and-steel building, so it is going to have panels with different elevations and sizes," says Mr. Neilas. "It's a pretty simple building in every other way."

In November, sales will commence for the condominium community, which will contain 188 suites between the 10-storey buildings in the north end of the downtown core on a former industrial site at Shepherd Road and Kerr Street.

"In Oakville in particular, it's really going to be the first with modern lofts," adds Mr. Neilas.

The complexity of the exterior design allows for a wide variation of loft-style suites, including studios to three-bedroom plans with 10-foot ceiling and eight two-storey townhouses with up to 20-foot ceilings and backyard space.

"We've got nice, good lighting and good views from almost every room," Mr. Neilas notes.

Elaine Cecconi of Cecconi Simone will oversee the interior designs, which will be dressed with custom vanities and hardwood, marble and granite materials.

"They tend to have sliding doors, barn doors … and the ceilings are painted concrete," adds Mr. Neilas. "[The finishes]are going to be superior to your typical condominium building out in Oakville right now."

When residents require more space, there will be a three-level amenity complex with a gym, party room and rooftop patio. "The neat thing on the rooftop is going to be an outdoor theatre," Mr. Neilas says.

Units will come with parking, even though the site is across the street from retail shops and within a five-minute drive of upscale bistros, boutiques and galleries along Lakeshore Road, waterfront parks, a theatre and golf course.

Like larger cities nearby – which are easily accessible via GO Transit and Highway 403 – Oakville also hosts annual fashion, music and arts festivals.

"It appears it's the only subdivision in the city with a thriving downtown. Typically, suburbs don't have that," says Mr. Neilas. "If you go on a weekend to downtown Oakville, you can't get a table at a restaurant."

Monthly fees will be 50 cents per square feet, and occupancy is slated for the winter of 2013.

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