Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/856921
AUGUST 2017 | 55 RENDERING COURTESY DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS carpet are the predominant floor surfaces. Design detail was also added with a razor-edge ceiling design and speciality lighting in the lunchroom. Level 17 was from the outset designed to be a showcase of sorts, with 15-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling vision glass and a 300-seat multipurpose room with adjacent direct roof terrace access. "The 17th floor is an events space and video production centre," says Michael Taft, electrical designer for Mulvey & Banani International Inc. Taft describes the overall fit out as, "fairly straightforward despite lots of audio visual components, high- performance LED lighting throughout, and many other elements. If there was a challenge, it was the fact we had to do the fit out based on the base building specs – because we were obliged to put together our fit out documents while construction of the facility started in the summer of 2015." Norris adds, "Everything went as planned although a little delayed in some areas; the interconnecting stairs, for example. We had a few last minute requests for security doors [Maglocks] and an additional meeting room was a late request we had to accommodate. The patience of our staff and management by senior leadership helped us get through the early days of our space still under construction." The Globe and Mail Centre also has the distinction of being the first corporate offices in Canada to deploy a GPON fibre optic network, provided by Spectech Technology Consulting and Project Management. Spectech president and CEO Michael Spencer says, "Providing The Globe with a fibre optic Ethernet system instead of a standard copper wire system resulted in only one main technical room required for the entire system, instead of two per floor. Not only was this a huge space savings, it would also result in substantial energy savings as well as improved Ethernet performance." Dow summarizes the sentiments of his colleagues when he says, "I can't emphasize enough how critical First Gulf's vision was to the success of this project. Truly, this is a unique contribution to the St. Lawrence neighbourhood." A The Globe and Mail Centre LOCATION 351 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER First Gulf BASE BUILDING: ARCHITECT Diamond Schmitt Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR First Gulf STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT The HiDi Group GLOBE AND MAIL INTERIOR FIT OUT: ARCHITECT KPMB Architects CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Turner & Townsend GENERAL CONTRACTOR Greenferd Construction Inc. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT The Mitchell Partnership Inc. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Mulvey & Banani International Inc. AV CONSULTANT Engineering Harmonics Inc. TOTAL SIZE 500,000 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed Superior Sprinklers.indd 1 2017-07-27 8:25 AM