Image courtesy Toronto Eaton Centre

The Toronto Eaton Centre began upgrading washrooms, flooring, and doors on July 1 as part of its two-year transformation project.

The Toronto Eaton Centre started its $120-million revitalization—its largest transformation since the 5.9-ha (14.5-acre) shopping centre opened its doors in 1977.

The first phase of the project began earlier this month and involves creating a new dining environment through redeveloping and expanding the north food court, which will become the main dining area. The south food court will also be transformed, creating an upscale restaurant-style environment.

The north food court's dining area will incorporate sustainability in several areas, including replacing disposable paper and polystyrene plates and containers with reusable dishes and cutlery. There will also be updated cleaning equipment with integrated technologies, saving more than 50 per cent in water and electricity. A pulping machine will be added behind the scenes to process food scraps and disposable materials into a semi-dry compostable pulp designed to increase the building's landfill diversion rate beyond 90 per cent.

Other upgrades include:
• renovating and expanding washrooms;
• redoing all flooring;
• replacing existing handrails with glass and stainless steel caps;
• adding a retail lobby entrance to the 250 Yonge Street office tower;
• upgrading finishes of all escalators and elevators;
• supplying new doors to all entrances;
• creating a new and extensive greening and tree-planting program; and
• installing lighting enhancements.

Image courtesy Gervais Harding Associates (GHA Design Studios)

The new dining area will incorporate sustainable design with reusable dishes and cutlery.