On November 6th 2024, Retail Design Institute Canada and Interior Designers of Canada co-hosted an unforgettable evening, an exclusive design walking tour of Toronto’s Water Works Food Hall, as part of IDC’s 7th Annual Design Symposium program.
Downtown Toronto’s King West district has become a hotbed for bold, high-profile restaurant openings in recent years, but none quite match the grandeur of the 20,000-square-foot food hall nestled within the iconic Art Deco heritage building at 505 Richmond Street West. Located on the historic Waterworks site, this dynamic culinary destination features a curated selection of some of the city's most beloved food vendors.
Spanning half a city block, from Brant Street to Maud Street, the property is steeped in history. Originally home to St. Andrew’s Market, which in 1837 was Toronto’s third-largest public market, the site has seen many transformations. Over the years, it has served as a police station, a library, a community hall, and later, a City of Toronto Water Works facility. After years of abandonment, this once-industrial building, along with its attached garage, has been reimagined into a stunning horseshoe-shaped, 13-storey mixed-use development.
The revitalized complex features not only the bustling food hall—often compared to Amsterdam’s famed Foodhallen—but also a boutique condo residence, a rooftop garden, and a brand-new YMCA, all seamlessly connected to the picturesque St. Andrew’s Playground. This visionary project is the result of a remarkable collaboration between some of Toronto's most esteemed developers, architects, and designers, who have transformed this space into a vibrant community hub.
During this opening event, guests gathered in the newly designed interior courtyard, which was once a parking lot and is now surrounded by street-level retail and dining options. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as a series of guest speakers took the stage to share the behind-the-scenes journey of the project. MOD Developments and Woodcliffe Landmark Properties, the visionary forces behind the transformation, offered insights into their ambitious plans for the space.
Guests were then divided into groups for guided tours of the facility, where they gained firsthand knowledge from the design team at Futurestudio, the engineering experts at Smith + Anderson, and the implementation teams led by Buildit by Design. Through their narratives, attendees learned about the challenges and triumphs involved in bringing this historic space back to life, blending cutting-edge design with Toronto’s rich architectural heritage.
Special thanks to our guest speakers:
Paul Dydula, Vice President of Development, Woodcliffe Landmark Properties
Paul oversees Woodcliffe’s award-winning development portfolio, combining skills in city planning and architecture. With experience managing major projects in Toronto and Chicago, he also has a background as a land development consultant.
Kieran Roberts, Asset Manager, Waterworks Food Hall, Woodcliffe Landmark Properties
Marie Girolamo, Director of Design, MOD Developments Inc
Aidan Ball, Vice President of Construction, MOD Developments Inc.
Ali McQuaid, Creative Director, Futurestudio
Reuben Barkin, Director of Operations, Build It
Bram Atlin, Principal, Smith + Andersen
Samantha Dhama, Associate, Smith + Andersen
The Retail Design Institute Canada continues to look forward to creating a platform and more events, where design and retail professionals can connect. Stay tuned for our next event!
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