211 Yonge Street
Do they come any more handsome than this? Built in 1919 for the flagship store and offices of the former Adams Furniture Company, the composition and brawn of the main facade was carefully restored. Complemented by an extensive interior renovation, the project delivers a refreshed robust heritage building on Toronto’s most prominent street.
Client
HNR Properties Limited
Location
211 Yonge St, Toronto, Canada
Start Date
2016
Completion Date
2021
Area
60,000 SF
Status
Phase 1 Completed
Phase 2 Ongoing
Type
Commercial
Renovation/Restoration
Photography
Revelateur Studio
Process
The heritage building at 211 Yonge Street last saw major renovation in the 1970s, and little renewal had occurred since. The scope of work included restoration of the principal facade, life safety updates, as well as upgrading retail and office suites for new tenants. Careful analysis of the Building Code revealed the heavy timber structure could be exposed, thereby making the building more attractive and marketable for prospective tenants.
Challenge
The project faced numerous challenges, including the need to maintain operation of the building during upgrades. In one sub-project, an extensive restaurant renovation, careful coordination allowed for the replacement of kitchen systems within vastly reworked and spatially reduced areas. Our team also strived to determine all opportunities for reuse of the resources and materials already available within the building. We surveyed the existing wood windows and demonstrated that they were in good shape for retention and restoration, with only 24 of the 216 requiring replacement for building code reasons.
Sustainability
The renovation was designed following LEED principles and prioritized efficiency and tenant comfort. We focused on a return to the robust base finish in order to reduce reliance on finishes that have to be removed and replaced over time. Where possible, operable windows were maintained on all floors in order to give user control. This, in combination with the tenant specific systems, including individual AC units and metering, and tenant billing promotes responsibility with thermal control. During tenant turnover, abandoned spaces were carefully analyzed and explored for reuse and turn-key marketing of the suite as is, or with minor modification where possible.
