Rojas Empire Of Design

Kingston Rd | Motel Expansion

Kingston Rd Motel Expansion

Ajax

Property Type: Existing 1-Storey Mixed-Use Building (Restaurant + 18 Motel Units)
Scope of Work: Conversion of Existing Restaurant/Café into 9 Additional Motel Units (Total 27 Units)

Project Overview

This unique project in Ajax involved repurposing a single-storey mixed-use building—originally housing an 18-unit motel and a front-facing restaurant/café—into a fully hospitality-focused site. The objective was to convert the underutilized restaurant space into 9 additional motel units, each between 300–450 sq. ft., bringing the total to 27 rooms on-site. While the recommendation was to completely demolish the restaurant interior and start fresh, we opted to work within the existing building shell to keep costs lower and permit requirements simpler.

Scope & Strategy

  • Designed 9 new motel units within the existing restaurant/café shell.
  • Maintained structural integrity and building envelope to reduce construction complexity.
  • Replicated unit layouts wherever possible for efficient design and construction workflow.
  • Reorganized mechanical and plumbing layouts to support the new residential-style units.
  • Coordinated new layout to meet Ontario Building Code and Fire Code for short-term stays.

    • Challenges Solved

    • Navigated irregularities in the existing restaurant footprint while maximizing unit count.
    • Balanced layout efficiency with mechanical feasibility and code compliance.
    • Designed each unit to be self-contained with minimal design variation for ease of construction.
    • Worked around limitations of existing exterior walls to avoid triggering costly additions or variances.

      • Investor Benefits

      • Increased unit count from 18 to 27 without needing a building addition.
      • Strategic re-use of underutilized space with strong ROI potential through daily/weekly rental.
      • Avoided demolition by working creatively within the existing restaurant footprint.
      • Modular design approach allows for simplified construction phasing when resumed.

        • Current Status

        Design completed. Permit submission currently on hold at the owner’s request.

        Download PDF

        Motel, Mixed Use, 09Unit, Cost-Saving Interior Retrofit