The solution

Arcadis (formerly IBI) worked with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust on the renovation and expansion of two towers at Yonge and Eglinton, comprised of retail and office space.

The design team provided interior design and architecture services for the redevelopment of the Centre, beginning with a 46,000-square-foot retail expansion to its shopping mall. A glass-covered retail addition with a 4-storey glass atrium functions as a mini-hub. It provides access to a publicly accessible green rooftop patio that’s open year-round and to a convenient subway station on the concourse level of the building.

The Centre also underwent a 51,000-square-foot interior retail renovation of all public spaces, including a re-branding of the entire mall. The upgrade touched storefronts, Centre Court and mall entrances and delivered a renewed aesthetic for local shoppers and other pedestrians who navigate the complex as part of their day.

The team recommended a 209,000-square-foot office tower expansion and renovation with the addition of seven stories to the Yonge Commercial tower and five stories to the Eglinton Commercial tower. The existing towers were re-clad with glass to improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope.

The impact

Toronto’s Yonge Eglinton Centre is a classic urban renewal project. The renovated mixed-use Centre makes a significant design statement by tapping into existing urban infrastructure, utilizing current sustainable practices and amplifying the use of public transit. The highly improved, well-proportioned open plaza also acts as a venue on Yonge Street for day-to-day sitting, people-watching, small outdoor concerts and an open-air market.

Yonge Eglinton Centre is more than a renovated commercial complex – it’s a contemporary, state-of-the-art home to hundreds of businesses and offices that strengthen a growing community and a thriving downtown.