River City Phase 1, the first phase of the four phase Saucier + Perrotte designed River City development, is a dark, moody collection of two buildings, one 16 storeys and one 6, connected by a four storey bridge. Described by the Globe and Mail's Lisa Rochon as a "pure vision of liberated design" and by Alex Bozikovic, also of the Globe, as "black and jagged as a Stealth Bomber flying sideways", this 349 unit development set the stage for an entirely different kind of residential architecture in Toronto.

LEED Gold and carbon neutral, River City Phase 1 pushes the envelope in terms of environmental sustainability as well as architectural design. Among other things, the Phase 1 buildings are highly energy efficient, and include green roofs and car share spaces. Amenities include a two-storey "lightbox" facing the Richmond Adelaide ramps, and a white tiled lap pool on an ipe plinthe floating on a sea of wildflowers. Interior design, both in-suite and for the common areas, is also by Saucier + Perrotte, in order to ensure a consistent design aesthetic across the whole development.

The completion of River City Phase 1 in 2013 heralded the first residents into the rejuvenated West Don Lands, a major component of Waterfront Toronto's urban regeneration mandate.