Then & Now

DRIVING INNOVATION

Food retailer’s innovation hub preserves historic features while fostering future-forward workforce

By Lisa McDonald

Photo courtesy Doublespace Photography

With a history dating back to the early 1900s, Sobeys Inc. boasts more than 1,500 stores nationwide. To house the team supporting its new online shopping platform, the food retailer recently renovated three floors of a historically designated, 1920s brick and beam warehouse in downtown Toronto. The design honours the structure’s original architecture and flooring, while creating a forward-looking, state-of-the-art innovation hub to attract and retain a tech-savvy staff.

To comply with heritage preservation guidelines for the site, the warehouse’s original oak wood strip floors had to be kept — a directive that resonated with Sobeys’ vision for sustainability. Some of the surface-level wear and tear to the oak wood strip flooring was left untreated as a feature of the overall design. In areas where non-load bearing walls were demolished, it was necessary to patch and repair the flooring to match the usable flooring’s existing condition. Sobeys’ construction manager, Flatiron, sourced and supplied the matching wood.

Sobeys occupies floors two through four of the building. A yoga studio is housed directly below on the ground level. Music and conversation from the studio travelled up and could be heard in Sobeys’ space. To mitigate noise from below, the building owner installed a layer of acoustic insulation and a new wood strip floor on the second floor. This provides improved acoustic privacy for both Sobeys and the yoga studio.

Modular carpet was installed to further lessen acoustic concerns and cover visible hard seams where new and old wood strip floors connect. Shaw Contract’s Kindred collection in the Belong style was used in these spaces, adding a layer of functionality and beauty as well as warmth and comfort.

In walk-off areas adjacent to facility entrances and other spaces, such as coat closets where damp boots could be a problem, Tandus Abrasive Action modular tile was applied directly to the wood strip floor. Both the Tandus and Shaw carpeting are NSF 140 compliant at the platinum and gold levels, respectively, have high recycled content, are certified to the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus standard and have achieved Cradle to Cradle silver. These eco-friendly products further support the design’s emphasis on sustainability.

Lisa McDonald is a design professional with more than 25 years of commercial interiors experience, working with major Canadian companies across multiple industries. At IA Interior Architects in Toronto, she currently focuses on workplace strategy, helping clients reimagine the office and future of work. Sobeys’ Innovation Hub garnered IA Interior Architects a 2021 ARIDO award, presented by the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario.

The latest in self-leveling technology

Quick turnarounds and deep-fill voids are no match for MAPEI’s new self-levelers

Two new self-leveling formulations from MAPEI can meet the needs of even the most demanding application – whether the challenge is a short timeline, a vast uneven floor, deep holes or wide cracking.

Novoplan® HFL high-flow leveler: • High-flow, super-fluid properties for easy mixing and placement

Contractor feedback tells us that Novoplan HFL basically finishes itself and requires little effort to achieve a super smooth finish. Novoplan DPL deep-pour leveler: • Capable of being placed up to 4" (10 cm) in a single lift

This leveler is the perfect solution for those deep repairs that would typically require extension or multiple lifts. Novoplan DPL easily handles deep-fill applications, reducing time on the job and extra labor.

Enjoy MAPEI’s newest self-leveling technology for a smooth floor and a faster finish. For more details, visit www.mapei.ca.