Ever wondered how a building can bring together over a thousand creative minds? That’s Corus Quay. Corus Quay stands proudly on Toronto’s East Bayfront. It is more than just an office tower. It’s a hub of innovation and entertainment.
Originally named First Waterfront Place, Corus Quay is an eight-story commercial office tower. The building sits on a 2.5-acre waterfront site. This CA$160 million building was the first major development planned for the East Bayfront district. Its construction concluded at the foot of Jarvis Street.
Corus Quay is home to Corus Entertainment’s Toronto headquarters. The location consolidates its ten locations. It brings together 1,200 employees. Diamond Schmitt Architects designed the building. Quadrangle Architects completed the interiors. The Toronto Economic Development Corporation, a city agency, developed the building. Funding came from TEDCO’s equity, city loans, and a CA$12.5 million city contribution.
Corus Quay aimed to be a public destination. It provides housing and commercial opportunities. The building buffered new development from the Redpath Sugar plant. This allowed residential and educational facilities to be built nearby.
Corus Quay is near the former Waterside Sports Tennis Club site. The club closed because the city could not find a new waterside location. In addition to Corus’s business operations, the facility houses television and radio operations. These include studios for CFMJ, CFNY-FM, and CILQ-FM. It also houses a secondary studio for Global Toronto and Global’s The Morning Show. The master control room for Family Channel is also in this building.
In 2012, Corus Quay hosted the Beyblade World Championship tournament finals. Ryo Takahashi, the Japanese representative, won the championship.
The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation created a design review panel in 2005. This brought transparent discussions to the waterfront’s development. This site was the first significant project for the panel. It was the first major building constructed on Toronto’s East Bayfront.
In 2005, five firms were shortlisted to propose a development plan. TEDCO hired Diamond Schmitt Architects to design a plan for their portion of the precinct. In 2006, competing visions emerged between municipal agencies. Mayor David Miller favored the TEDCO plan.
In February 2007, TEDCO announced “Project Symphony.” This was a plan for an office building housing a major commercial tenant. In April 2007, TEDCO signed a deal with a media company. The company moved 1,100 employees to the new building. Corus revealed itself as TEDCO’s mystery media tenant in June 2007. Toronto City Council approved a deal to finance the building.
Construction began in the summer of 2007. The glass curtain wall reached the roof by August 2009. In February 2010, TEDCO delivered the base building to Corus. In December 2023, H&R REIT sold the property to George Brown College and Halmont Properties Corp.
Corus Quay achieved LEED Gold status for environmental sustainability. The building features green roof areas. It also has a five-story green living wall. There are 100 bicycle parking spaces and AutoShare hybrid vehicles on site. Public art installations by U.K. artists Troika enhance the space.
Corus Quay is a 46,500-square-meter office and broadcast center. It consolidates Corus’s Toronto-based operations into one facility. Over 1,100 employees work at Corus Quay. They promote a thriving business and cultural community.
The building features a significantly reduced power signature. A fire-store bio well provides air filtration. Low-flow water fixtures and reused rainwater reduce water consumption. An underground storage facility houses more than 70 bicycles.
Corus Quay boasts over 15,000 square feet of reception and meeting space. It is a light-filled, open-concept building. Lake Ontario provides a stunning backdrop. The Atrium features a five-story bio-wall. A three-story slide and two-story doors lead to the waterfront promenade. The Eighth Floor Lounge and Theatre offer views of Toronto’s skyline. Two green roof terraces have patio furniture and barbeques.
Corus Quay truly represents a cultural shift. It embodies fun and collaboration.