Breathing New Life into an Older Building (February 2001)
In 1999, executives at Cadillac Fairview, owners of Canada's largest office complex, the Toronto Dominion Centre (TD Centre), were facing a dilemma: what could be done to make the Centre more attractive to new tenants and even more appealing to its 20,000 current occupants? Already one of the most recognizable landmarks in Toronto's downtown financial district, the development consists of six "Class A" towers totaling 4.5 million sq ft on 5.5 acres. In addition to the above-ground area, the complex features a retail section with 70 stores and two food courts located at the hub of Toronto's 11-kilometer network of underground shopping concourses.
Mr. Rob Furlan, director of property operations at TD Centre, had some big ideas in mind, but he knew that a project of this scope would be an enormous challenge. First, since the office complex houses some of the most prestigious and influential businesses in Toronto, renovation would have to be as unobtrusive as possible. Overnight, each floor would need to be retrofitted and the tenant space made fully operational for the next morning. Second, the buildings are enormous, with the tallest tower at 54 stories, making any renovation project a massive undertaking.