Much like our client, who embraces a comprehensive approach to all “facets” of skin health, including dermatological treatments, research, and skincare products, we pursued a holistic and wholesale reimagination of this commercial site on Toronto’s east side. Our deep retrofit, proportional expansion, and brand-driven architectural and interior design retains and refreshes the existing building stock along a commercial stretch of Kingston Road to deliver a specialized three-storey medical clinic and refined retail environment for FACET Dermatology. 

To meet the spatial needs of the clinic’s growing practice, we designed third-floor and rear additions made of lightweight wood and steel that integrate with the original two-storey masonry building. We replaced the existing front façade, which had seen several previous renovations, with a modern, insulated envelope and wrapped it in custom-folded black metal cladding that nods to the brand identity with its faceted profile. A diagonal line separates the two profiles — the wider corrugated folds on the right are twice the width of the tighter ones on the left — and houses a linear light strip that illuminates the lower portion of the street-facing elevation.

The ground floor is the project’s centrepiece. Visible through large windows that front the sidewalk, the main reception area and retail space were designed to beckon. The warm and alluring interior palette — charcoal and cream tones with pink accents — one glimpses through the glass is brought into even greater relief by virtue of the contrast created by the black metal exteriors. The result is a distinctive street presence that invites curiosity and passersby to cross the threshold into the renovated storefront. 

Anchored by a white Corian capsule-shaped island with a delicate bronze footrail — a display area that doubles as a demonstration counter for events and seminars — the ground-floor space comes to life through an array of bespoke touches. A large-format porcelain floor tile pattern meets a custom-glazed blush ceramic-tile mural wall with backlit brand signage, behind which sits a consultation room for private conversations with new and prospective clients. Various light fixtures — sconces, pendants, and overhead lights — work in concert to create a glowing atmosphere. A feature floor-to-ceiling smoked oak storage and display unit houses skincare products while a full-height cream-coloured drape adds a voluptuous layer and conceals ancillary spaces for staff. 

The program unfolds across four floors that are connected by a new feature stair that doubles as a fire-exit stair. This elegant staircase is characterized by porcelain tile treads and a hot pink handrail that matches the wayfinding. A dedicated lab facility for our client and her team to conduct on-site research occupies the basement level, whereas the second and third floors feature treatment rooms with specialized equipment for medical and cosmetic procedures, respectively. The serene reception and waiting areas on these floors feature soft seating and custom millwork and leather-wrapped display shelving made from oak and bronze metal. An ocular skylight punctuates the third storey, flooding the space with natural light.

Images: doublespace photography