This project redesigned the office entrance and front facade of an existing industrial building at 1200 Denison Street in Markham. The warehouse and production areas sit at the rear of the site, while the office faces the street and serves as the main public entry.
The client, Shunda Polyurethane Ltd., asked for a reface of the existing building and a better entrance. With no fixed design direction set, the project became an opportunity to give the facility a clearer architectural identity rather than a new set of finishes.
The design was built on a single idea: remove anything unnecessary and let the structure of the entrance become part of how it looks.
The structural steel frame and the aluminum curtain wall were designed as one system rather than two. The 6 x 6 HSS members that carry the entrance roof also act as the primary support for the curtain wall, which removed a full layer of secondary framing. The steel carries the load and sits in the glass line as part of the finished entrance.
Integrating the two systems required close coordination between the architectural design, structural engineering, fabrication, and installation teams. Quadrant led that coordination through design and delivery.
Work was limited to the street-facing portion of the building, so warehouse and office operations continued uninterrupted. Materials and detailing were selected for durability and low maintenance on an active industrial site.
Quadrant Architects designs industrial facilities, office entrances, facade upgrades, and commercial fit-outs across Markham and the Greater Toronto Area, including Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Scarborough, and North York. Related services: industrial architect · Markham commercial architect · tenant improvement and change of use.
Project lead: Farzad Esnaashari, M.Arch. 416-835-0053 · farzad@quadrantarchitects.com
