Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/493534
54 | A PR IL 2015 Chinook Centre PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CADILLAC FAIRVIEW CORPORATION LIMITED Chinook Centre by IRWIN RAPOPORT F ollowing a $277-million renovation that was completed in 2010, Calgary's Chinook Centre has recently under- gone yet another upgrade, this time to the former department store building occupied by Sears. The latest expansion sees the rede- velopment of two-storeys to the north- east corner of the existing facility, plus renovations to the existing mall. The expansion, via another multi-million dollar renovation by Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, has provided Nordstrom department store the oppor- tunity to open a location in the high-end mall – making it the U.S. retailer's first foray into the Canadian market. "It's an upscale fashion department store, catered to higher-end offerings and service, and it complements our first-class offering that we currently have at Chinook Centre," explains Josh Thomson, Cadillac Fairview's VP of development. "It has been a joint- effort between Cadillac Fairview and Nordstrom, and a successful one." The former Sears building has been transformed from a buff brick exterior, which was dated, to an updated facade more in tune with the rest of the Centre. At the time Nordstrom began plan- ning its entry into Canada, Nordstrom and its architect, Callison, Inc., had already started to design and develop new concepts for all new and remodelled Nordstrom stores in the U.S. and Canada. The new store design incorporated more glass, natural light extending to all floors of the store, textured materials includ- ing wood ceilings and for renovations such as Chinook, an exterior combining stone and ceramic panels. DIALOG assisted the Nordstrom design team by sharing its knowledge of the existing building and the local design and review process for large- scale remodel projects such as at Chinook Centre. "Nordstrom has a distinctive brand and they wanted to make sure that the exterior conveys that brand," says David Miner, a principal with DIALOG. The new store is unique in terms of size and scale at 140,000 square feet of renovated space, however, the materi- als perfectly complement the character of the exterior that DIALOG, the archi- tectural firm which, along with GH+A, created during the 2010 expansion of the Centre, where they incorporated a limestone imported from Germany. "It's identifiable as an individual large department store and blends in well with Chinook. Chinook is a very dynamic shopping centre and we've been involved with it for the past 10 years and it contin- ues to grow. For the balance of the space, we enclosed the mall and created a new court in front of the store," adds Miner. The life expectancy of exteriors has dramatically changed over the past few years and Miner adds that the goal was to create an almost timeless exterior. "When we start to put materials like stone on the exterior we are saying we expect them to be around for 20 to 30 years. Chinook is part of this shift with the use of higher quality finishes that create areas where tenants can do their own thing within the framework of a more neutral background – change the look and feel, but not affect the overall bigger building behind it." Nor d s t r om ha s t wo ex t er ior entrances. On the west side, shoppers pass through an entrance that places them on the upper floor, while on the east side, shoppers enter through a full two-storey entrance. "It is grander [than the previous expansion] and glass has been incor- porated on both levels," says Miner. "The enhanced glazed entrance and upper f loor face the Macleod Trail, a major north-south artery. The latest finishes provide a new look and image to thousands of commuters that pass by every day." Another entrance, via the indoor mall extends the finishes of the 2010 renovation. "This is fairly high-end as it is the luxury wing for Chinook," explains Miner. "We incorporated white porcelain tile, wood ceilings, and a new mall storefront. We also extended the skylights that enhance the Nordstrom café, which allowed them to come out into the common area and have a seating area – we really dressed this area up to create a fantastic entrance with a two- storey courtyard." Thomson adds that when it came to the design of the store, Nordstrom did an out- standing job: "It's one of the best depart- ment store exterior and interior designs that I've seen done in North America. Over the past few years, Nordstrom has focused on efforts to improve its in-store design and layout to continue to attract new and existing customers. The final product speaks for itself," says Thomson. The store incorporates the latest design concepts and features a clean, beautiful, single-surface floor through- out to offer f lexibility to adjust and evolve departments, depending on the ever-changing needs of Calgary custom- ers. "The store layout will create a sense of discovery, allowing customers to nav- igate easily and to find new brands they haven't experienced before. We are also incorporating natural light around the store to connect the shopping experi- ence in store to the outside world," says Dan Evans from Nordstom. The interior features wood ceilings, large rugs, 3D dimensional lighting, local artwork and sculptures, as well as wood community tables and an interchange- able merchandising display system. The goal was to create a newly energized customer experience while allowing for f lexible transformation in the future. "Fundamental rede- sign of every element from landscape, exterior and interior design, planning, merchandise organization and fixtures, furniture and decor were implemented to bring this new store design to life," adds Evans. "We want our customers to feel good. This is reflected through- out every design strategy, material and element in the store experience that was created to give our customers an energizing environment that feels alive with energy and light." Chinook Centre also now has two food offerings. The newest restaurant concept, Bazille, is a full-service bistro-style restaurant with a lounge that features appetizers and a full bar. There is also an Ebar, which offers espresso drinks and has many "grab-and-go" food offerings. "Our shoppers appreciate Nordstrom coming into Canada and maintaining its high standards of customer service," adds Thomson. "It came in strong with an impressive business plan and that is creat- ing a lot of buzz and bringing in a lot of new customers, and satisfying our loyal ones." Thomson adds, "We've completed four other deals with Nordstrom across Canada including Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa, but this is a great win for us to have them in Calgary and it's a great addition for Chinook. Their being here allows us to stay competitive within a really competitive market place." A LOCATION 6455 Macleod Trail Southwest, Calgary, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER (CHINOOK CENTRE) Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited ARCHITECT DIALOG GENERAL CONTRACTOR PCL Construction Management Inc. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Emans Smith Andersen Engineering Ltd ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Designcore Engineering DESIGN ARCHITECT (NORDSTROM STORE) GH+A ARCHITECT Callison Architecture, Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Omicron Construction Ltd COST Undisclosed TOTAL AREA 140,000 square feet (renovated space)