The multidisciplinary design firm, DIALOG, is an amalgamation of some of Canada’s most established practices across Canada and was renamed in 2010 to convey the collaborative approach of the in-house architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, urban designers, planners and sustainability specialists. With studios in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, DIALOG has since matured and continues to deliver unique design solutions through innovative thinking, sustainable leadership, design excellence and strong project management.

DIALOG’s integrated services are award-winning and is being leveraged on a growing number of GTA projects, including a new mixed-use development for Allied Properties, a series of projects for St. Michael’s Hospital, and the addition and expansion of Sherway Gardens.

Torontonians are probably most familiar with Sherway’s white-canopied roof, visible from the junction of the Gardiner, QEW and Highway 427, but as the future home of the hotly anticipated Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, a future visit to Etobicoke is inevitable.

Sherway owner, Cadillac Fairview, saw an opportunity to redevelop this well-positioned retail hub and enlisted DIALOG whose design will transform this surburban mall into a vibrant, urban hotspot. In addition to the architecture and interior design, DIALOG has also been engaged to assist with the preparation of a long-range master plan for the 75-acre site. The proposed projects will intensify the area and transform the streetscape; the multi-phased redevelopment of Sherway Gardens is only the first step.

DIALOG used their integrated approach to identify “an opportunity to turn this interior shopping centre outward to address the street and setup future growth along the Queensway.” Partner-in-Charge, Jim Anderson, calls it the “urbanization of the suburbs”.

Population growth studies have projected the City of Toronto’s population in 2020 to reach 3.0 million and the Greater Toronto Area would reach a population of roughly 7.5 million by 2025. The multitude of condo towers on the rise Toronto can’t be missed, however it’s easy to forget that infrastructure must develop across the sectors and include the suburbs to meet the demand this projected growth will cause. As such, Toronto’s malls are experiencing somewhat of a renaissance.

Construction of the 350,000 square foot expansion is underway on the north side of Sherway, with renovations to 120,000 square feet of existing space to follow. Three new parkades complement the addition, the first of which is now open to vehicles.

Since the mall is remaining fully operational for the duration of the project, clever logistical planning has been an important component of the innovative design. The original S-shaped mall, which later became a figure eight, led to the location of the loading dock in the centre of the mall. Under the efficient, new design, the loading dock has been built below-grade and elevators will bring the merchandise up for retailer distribution at grade.

The dining hall, currently housed under those famous white tents, will move to the new street-facing main entrance, creating a bright and airy urban eatery similar to that of the Eaton Centre. The simple façades will be replaced by additional restaurants with roof-top patios to further animate the public space.

Breathing new life into a project of such proportions takes time and phased construction is scheduled to continue until Spring 2017. Development of the surrounding area will take time, but with the potential for a TTC subway extension as part of the master plan, DIALOG is well-positioned to play a key role in the development of this Toronto West hub.