{"id":393916,"date":"2024-09-23T04:49:19","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T08:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada.constructconnect.com\/?p=393916"},"modified":"2024-09-20T16:09:16","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T20:09:16","slug":"build-it-by-design-basks-in-acclaim-for-waterworks-food-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada.constructconnect.com\/dcn\/news\/projects\/2024\/09\/build-it-by-design-basks-in-acclaim-for-waterworks-food-hall","title":{"rendered":"BUILD IT by Design basks in acclaim for Waterworks Food Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"
Toronto-based commercial design-build specialist BUILD IT by Design<\/a> is on a roll in Q3, basking in the praise for Toronto\u2019s new Waterworks Food Hall,<\/a> celebrating its 15th anniversary by reaching 600 projects on its books and announcing plans to expand in the next year.<\/p>\n The vast majority of BUILD IT\u2019s projects are in the restaurant and retail sector in Toronto.<\/p>\n BUILD IT director of operations Reuben Barkin explained it takes a special skillset to stay busy in the competitive sector and his firm has succeeded in part because of the expertise it is able to offer through its in-house millwork division.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s incredible the demand that we\u2019re seeing in the city of Toronto alone, and how the envelope is being pushed,\u201d Barkin said of the busy commercial sector.<\/p>\n \u201cMillwork is always a very integral part in all the builds. It\u2019s certainly a competitive advantage for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Typically using the design-build model, BUILD IT aligns with its clients right from the beginning of concepts, Barkin explained, helping them source real estate, negotiate leases and take care of high-level budgeting, initially, to see if there\u2019s even a case to move forward.<\/p>\n At that point, they assemble a design team with interior designers, architects and engineers and engage in value engineering.<\/p>\n The millwork team then creates custom woodwork, cabinetry and ornamental details, store fixtures, storefronts, entrances and artistic installations. Often the restaurants it creates are part of infill projects in Toronto\u2019s downtown, so that may offer high ceilings, exposed brick and old mechanical systems to design around.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two recent notable Toronto projects, the Waterworks Food Hall and the Rumble Boxing Studio, were both adaptive reuses.<\/p>\n The Waterworks project created a buzz even before the facility\u2019s July opening. It\u2019s located on the site of a 1932-era City of Toronto Waterworks building which spanned an entire city block in the Adelaide West neighbourhood. The developers are Woodcliffe Landmark Properties and MOD Developments. Since 2016 they have led the redevelopment of the site with a condo component on Richmond Street with 290 units and a new 60,000-square-foot YMCA.<\/p>\n The food hall opened in July to significant social media acclaim.<\/p>\n Woodcliffe CEO Eve Lewis visited some 50 food emporiums over several years to gather ideas for the food hall. Leading consultants in the restoration, design and fit-out included ERA Architects, Diamond Schmitt, Cecconi Simone, Futurestudio, DesignAgency and Steven Fong Architects.<\/p>\n The space features heritage brick walls and 44-foot ceilings with original steel beams and columns. BUILD IT performed kiosk build-out.<\/p>\n \u201cThe bones were there, the shell was there,\u201d said Barkin. \u201cThe purpose of that kiosk was to show the world what the concept was, how is it going to be different. They were trying to market it.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead of allowing the food sellers to design their own units, the developer pre-designed them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was great to take care of all the mechanical, all the millwork, all the finishes, all the lighting, all the integration to the base building services,\u201d said Barkin.<\/p>\n The owners of one bar, Civil Works, wanted zinc countertops but BUILD IT had to convince them and the design team that would not work logistically in a wet bar.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of the nicest bars we\u2019ve built, and it\u2019s got an absolutely incredible 20-foot-tall back bar, and this gorgeous front bar,\u201d said Barkin.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were able to come up with a painted stainless option that saved money, had a better finish, was easier to integrate, and can be a lot more sustainable, but still gave the same look.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rumble Boxing Studio at Yonge and Eglinton bills itself as a fight club with a nightclub vibe. It was built into the basement of a condo building and was a \u201clogistical nightmare,\u201d Barkin said, with no elevator and just a staircase for lugging supplies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt started off as this really cold and desolate concrete box with basic mechanical services, and we needed to come in there and have the vision to be able to see the studio through using a lot of tricks with paint and colour to block out the mechanical services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sound was an issue with businesses operating beside and above.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a lot of acoustical concessions and textures that need to be taken into account for the boxing ring, and then a lot of high-end millwork and softer materials to make you feel that you weren\u2019t in a basement space.<\/p>\n \u201cSome lighting techniques were used in a brighten up, make the space look extremely inviting.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the expansion, BUILD IT added a Calgary office five years ago and Barkin said within a year there will be a Vancouver headquarters, probably followed by Ottawa.<\/p>\n Follow the author on X\/Twitter @DonWall_DCN.<\/strong><\/p>\nReady to Rumble<\/span><\/h3>\n
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No zinc here<\/span><\/h3>\n