Yonge Corporate Centre (YCC) didn’t easily fit into any traditional category: downtown, mid-town or suburban. Designed to a quality that would attract financial core tenants, it was to be located overlooking the Don River, adjacent to a golf course, in a park-like setting. In a location that was more likely to attract traditional suburban tenants, its appearance and interior elements said "downtown" with its striking red granite exterior and open, flexible floor sizes.
When Phase One opened its doors in 1986, it created a new category in office development. A modern, multi-phase complex designed for established firms that no longer required a downtown address or were in the market for a satellite location of the highest quality. For companies that considered convenience and access just as important as quality, Yonge Corporate Centre would have no equal. The architectural firm of Neish Owen Rowland & Roy (now NORR Limited) understood the challenge and created a master plan that respected the abundant setting, limiting building height to six stories as to not overpower the existing tree line. The result was a project of three standalone yet connected buildings, each set in an undulating form that mirrored the natural sweep of the terrain. The development team was also careful to select building materials (interior and exterior) that blended and complemented the colours and textures of the natural environment.
The lands also have a significant historical connection. The complex sits on the site of the original village of York Mills which was established in the mid-1800s. With this historical connection, Cadillac Fairview was careful to restore the two remaining cottages on the property. These restored and expanded cottages are now home to Auberge Du Pommier, one of Toronto’s most celebrated restaurants.
A few YCC Facts:
- Developer/Owner/Manager: The Cadillac Fairview Corporation
- Building Stats:
- 4100 Yonge Street (1986): 224,460 sq. ft.; 38,033 sq. ft. typical floor
- 4110 Yonge Street (1988): 212,688 sq. ft.; 36,962 sq. ft. typical floor
- 4120 Yonge Street (1990): 219,663 sq. ft.; 36,692 sq. ft. typical floor
- Site: 8 acres
- Architect: Neish Owen Rowland & Roy ( now NORR Limited)
- Structural Engineers: Kazmar Consultants Ltd.
- Mechanical Engineers: Smith and Andersen Consulting Engineering
- Electrical Engineers: The ECE Group Ltd.
- Landscape Architects: Johnson Sustronk Weinstein + Associates Limited