Bay Adelaide Centre

Completed in June 2009, the Bay Adelaide Centre was built to be downtown Toronto’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core and Shell Gold high rise office building. After a span of almost 20 years by other developers, Brookfield Properties succeeded in integrating the historic National Building façade at 347 Bay Street into a 51 floor office building with concourse retail providing the final north/south link to the PATH underground pedestrian walkway. The building features a ½ acre urban plaza and 1,100 stall parking garage with entrances on both Adelaide and Richmond Streets. Loading dock entrance is via Richmond Street with direct access to the Concourse.

Anchored by major legal and accounting firms, the Bay Adelaide Centre is ‘the centre of business’ and represents a new standard for AAA class office buildings. Life safety features, such as stairwells 20% wider than Ontario Building Code requirements, blast resistance for the bottom 11 stories and control collapse columns represent an understanding of design challenges in today’s security conscious environment.

The sophisticated and contemporary ground floor lobby is vibrant and spacious, over 28 feet or 8.5 m tall , with an abundance of natural light. Featured on the south wall of the ground floor lobby, is a light installation designed by James Turrell, a Quaker artist residing in Arizona who has been recognized with prominent awards, such as the Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships. Gingko trees and ornamental grasses frame the benches and open area in the adjacent Arnell Plaza, allowing a pleasant respite for visitors.

To see the LEED Interactive Video, please click here.