Out with the Old, In with the New
Transforming a tired business park and keeping everyone happy in the process
The 1970s are synonymous with good times. One of our founders was born. One of our founders had a full head of hair. As all decades do, the era also gave birth to things that didn’t age well. So, while mustaches had made something of a comeback, the Panattoni business park, on a busy intersection in Mississauga, hadn’t quite weathered the times.
The industrial park, comprised of 5 separate buildings, needed a complete exterior reconstruction, including building facade, parking lot, walkways, curbing and landscaping.
We’d worked for Panattoni, a Real Estate Development Group before and both of our teams had enjoyed the process. For this project, Panattoni had a design in mind. Our team worked to engineer a way to bring their design to life within strict budget and timing constraints. Most stories that start out this way (at least in our field) don’t have a happy ending. This one probably wouldn’t have either without their trust.
Collaborating closely with Panattoni, we were able to make decisions on the fly, informed by the most current realities. A short feedback loop with trade input (informed by site conditions) helped us navigate the realities of a job site bustling with tenants efficiently.
We crafted strategies to ensure the work was done safely without adversely impacting tenants’ comfort or workflow.
Specific tactics included accommodating the tenants’ schedules, keeping them up to speed on construction details and developing and installing wayfinding signage. Tenants were made to feel like they were getting an upgrade, not being disrupted. For the duration of the project, Panattoni’s clients were our clients.
The buildings received the facelift they needed. New roads, walkways, and curbing were recommended and are now a safe place to walk. And the landscaping brought colour to a previously plain business park.
So out with the orange shag carpeting!
A warm welcome: Each building received new entry doors, windows, stucco, and a new paint job, finished with new curbs, walkways, and landscaping.
It's in the details: A custom stucco treatment and new windows were essential to cleaning up this old building.
Before: This tired-looking building provided no accessibility or walkway to its entrances. The road and curbs were unsafe for pedestrians.
After: A fresh coat of paint brightens up the building, breathing new life into it. New light fixtures, walkways, and paving provide a safe entryway for patrons, and landscaping gives it a warm, welcoming touch.
Before: Uneven pathways and unsafe walking conditions make for an unwelcome alleyway between buildings.
After: We removed the stones and wood edging, re-created walkways, and brightened up the buildings with a new stucco treatment, paint, and new windows.
We recommended new pedestrian walkways throughout the site for added safety.
New landscaping and an extensive paint job made a significant difference to the look of this large warehouse building.