First Place: “Grand Central Mimico Presentation Center”

2022 Retail Renovation Competition

A FORMER INDUSTRIAL area west of downtown Toronto is undergoing a renaissance, thanks in large part to Vandyk Properties’ new, master-planned nine-tower residential development. To make its mark in the city’s highly competitive condo market, the developer of the Grand Central Mimico complex decided it needed to take the complex’s sales center to a new level. To that end, Vandyk brought in interior design firm Figure3 (Toronto) to convert the raw bones of an existing industrial warehouse into a state-of-the-art “experience center” designed to drive sales for the complex, which has units priced in the $400,000s and up.

Before

“The interior condition of the original warehouse was rough and dark with unfinished concrete floors, cinder block walls and exposed corrugated metal deck,” says Mardi Najafi, Design Director, Retail at Figure3. “We set out to create a space that felt natural within the existing structural constraints while bringing the aesthetic of the Grand Central Mimico development and a modern sales experience to life.”

After

As a result, every interior surface was refinished to reflect the modern, sophisticated appeal of the development. To evoke the building’s industrial heritage, its ceiling was treated with a dark finish to provide depth, while the polished concrete floors and light walls create balance and ground the space.

Overall, the space was divided into a center hall flanked by surrounding perimeter aisles with vignettes that simulate a street of shops. Black metal structures were built to encase each “shop,” where a particular component of the project was highlighted.

“We knew we wanted to create a curated experience, because we weren’t just selling condos, we were bringing an entire community to life,” says Najafi.

Grand Central Mimico Presentation Centre

PHOTO GALLERY (15 IMAGES)