Canada’s First WELL Certified Interiors Project

HOK designed the renovation of TD’s office within Cadillac Fairview’s Toronto-Dominion Centre in downtown Toronto.

The office renovation earned WELL Gold Certification through the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Building Standard, which focuses on enhancing health and well-being through the built environment. It was the first project globally to be certified under v1 of WELL and was Canada’s first within the standard’s New and Existing Interiors typology. 

TD’s project achieved the WELL Gold rating based on accomplishments in seven categories of building performance: air, water, light, nourishment, fitness, comfort and mind.

Marrying TD’s corporate design standards with WELL’s New and Existing Interiors typology, the renovated 23rd floor of the Toronto-Dominion Centre incorporates health and wellness features throughout the space. HOK’s design creates an engaging environment that enriches the employee experience, supports wellness and encourages healthy living.

In addition to creating a sustainable, high-performance space design, the project team wanted to promote ongoing occupant wellness programs and behaviors. Solutions include:

• Pushing beyond LEED and imposing higher standards for air and water quality, purity, filtration and user controllability. This included partnering with building owner Cadillac Fairview on enhancements to the tenant and base building systems.
• Encouraging healthy eating through the availability of fresh food, readily accessible drinking water and comfortable social spaces for breaks.
• Enhanced access to natural light, careful consideration of surface and material reflectance levels, personalized control and incorporation of lighting systems that support circadian rhythms.
• A wide range of work and breakout settings that promote social interaction and create a familiar, comfortable environment.
• Artwork and messaging elements that link occupants to their physical and historical context.
• Biophilic strategies that connect occupants with nature through the use of natural materials, patterns, views and plants.

TD is using this workplace renovation as a pilot project for incorporating WELL principles in future corporate and retail projects. The company will conduct surveys, interviews and focus group sessions to measure the impact of the project on employee health, wellness and satisfaction.