Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/255439
Markville Shopping Centre by Yvan Marston photos courtesy the cadillac Fairview corporation S hopping centres are designed to respond to change. There was a time when a shopping centre was seen as a neutral canvas, relying upon tenant storefronts to bring them to life. Then came innovations that reflected the growing social nature of the shopping centre. The model began shifting as large international brands reimagined retail and demanded dramatic frontages and sophisticated in-store environments that reinforced a brand experience. They're pushing aside the design constant of the shopping mall context and asking for their own voice. And owners are providing this because, like any other media, shopping malls rely on good content to attract traffic. This new trend is reflected in the recent renovation of the Markville Shopping Centre in Markham, Ontario. "The rationale for the recent $111- million Markville investment is quite simple – the retail landscape is continu- ally changing, as are consumer expec- tations," says Finley McEwen, Cadillac Fairview's senior VP of development. "Today's consumer is savvy and is exposed to a vast number of retail and service experiences. Consumers expect to be delighted and they expect a roster of retailers that reflect a global inven- tory of well-known brands," he adds. The Markville Shopping Centre's redesign works to create a dramatic, upscale and sophisticated atmosphere, having re-merchandised over 250,000 square feet of the one-million-square- foot commercial space that features high-end, global brands such as Michael Kors, Coach, Zara and Victoria's Secret. Owner The Cadillac Fair view Corporation has extensive expertise in developing and managing commercial real estate, and currently has several shopping centre redevelopments underway across the country, includ- ing Pacific Centre in Vancouver and Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke. As for Markham, this fast-growing community has quickly become one of Canada's most affluent and cosmopoli- tan areas, so it was a natural decision for Cadillac Fairview to embark on revitalizing the Centre. Work began in September 2011 with EllisDon as the constructor. Among the key changes at Markville is the new Express Eatery food court and upgrades to the mall finishes; new high-quality flooring – some 180,000 square feet of large-scale tile, 12,000 linear feet of new glass handrails to replace the grey picket rails that once framed the second-storey openings, and a reimagined Centre Court that fea- tures a dramatic sweeping staircase, and a feature exhibit space. There were dozens of other esthetic changes such as refinishing the stair- cases and recladding the columns, new high-efficiency light fixtures and mechanical equipment, and new eleva- tors and escalators. Perhaps the most significant change was the addition of a new light cove running the length of the mall, creating a new opportunity for high storefronts. "There was a lot of new retail in this project and we wanted to provide them with the best opportunity pos- sible within the physical constraints of the storefronts. And 11 feet just doesn't cut it anymore. You have to have at least 14 feet," says Bess Pappas. Her firm, Pappas Design Studio, was responsible for all the interior work, from choosing the finishes and the palette to reconfig- uring the centre court and food court. One of the key challenges to the food court was its location. It didn't have as much access to the tremendous volume of light offered by the mall's large and continuous skylight, and it was tucked away under a low ceiling. To de-emphasize the low ceiling height, Pappas designed areas of inter- est on the ceiling consisting of very thin, floating grey panels with white uplighting around the panel perimeter. Underneath is a rectangular yellow lighting element. "It's really quite a flat ceiling design but there's a visual texture there that creates interest," she says, explaining that lighting calculations for this space were carefully studied to ensure it would be adequately bright. The subtle palette of greys, whites and yellows brings sophistication, while the best-in-class storefronts of the Express Eatery tenants bring excitement. A large scale KFC logo on a rounded red surface contrasts with the bright white of the Manchu Wok space. Tenants were encouraged to animate their spaces with high-quality materi- als, full colour and details such as sculp- tural patterned frames, integrated graphics and digital menu screens. In this respect, it is a good place to enter. The Express Eatery area is sig- nified by three new entrances, two on the upper mall level and one that leads directly into the space, redesigned by Petroff Partnership Architects, the architectural firm responsible for the original design of the Centre, and many renovations and expansions since. "The design of the new entrances reflects the changes in character found inside", says Mark Feldman, partner in charge of the project at Petroff. "They announce to the community that some- thing new and exciting is going on, and in this way connect the project to the larger urban fabric. The very large format white porcelain cladding and composite aluminum panels and cur- tain wall in a rich dark grey, juxtaposed with the warmth of the wood grained laminated panels, serve to reflect the interior's new level of sophistication" adds Feldman. n Location 5000 Highway 7 East, Markham, Ontario owner The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd. architect Petroff Partnership Architects GeneraL contractor EllisDon Corporation StructuraL conSuLtant exp Services Inc. MechanicaL conSuLtant The Mitchell Partnership eLectricaL conSuLtant Hammerschlag + Joffe Inc. interior DeSiGn Pappas Design Studio totaL area 250,000 square feet of renovation totaL coSt $111 million february 2014 /77 Markville Shopping Centre p76-77Markville.indd 77 14-01-22 12:51 PM