Menkes, TD achieve LEED Platinum for Toronto tower

TORONTO — Menkes Developments Ltd. and TD Asset Management Inc. have announced that 100 Queens Quay East in Toronto, its new 675,000 square foot office tower, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the Canada Green Building Council.

Built in 2021, the Class AAA office building is part of Menkes’ 11.5-acre Sugar Wharf development, which includes a two-acre public park, 200,000 square feet of retail space, 4,600 residential units and Toronto’s first vertically integrated school, stated a release.

The building is the new headquarters of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, with a flagship LCBO retail store, the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Canada Goose and Richardson Wealth.

Green initiatives incorporated into the project included revitalizing the formerly contaminated site, where soil remediation was conducted, and the energy-efficient water and light fixtures. The building also features a green roof to utilize unused roof space and maximizes energy performance through the installation of a large photovoltaic solar panel array.

The underfloor air distribution system at the site has diffusers at floor level, which circulate clean air from below, providing thermal comfort and improving indoor air quality.

The building is also part of the EnWave system, which provides district heating and cooling to many buildings in the downtown core of Toronto. Light sensors and a demand-response program provide responsive lighting while reducing demand on the electrical grid.

Floor to ceiling glass allows for maximum natural light penetration.

There are also notable water conservation measures. Rainwater and groundwater cisterns collect grey water that would have gone to waste and help to manage the site’s stormwater. The cisterns supply water to the landscaping drip irrigation system and reduce flush fixture demand.

“Sustainability is a key tenet of our design process that influences the operations of the entire building,” said Sean Menkes, vice-president for office and retail with Menkes, in a statement. “Being in a green building is a high priority for our tenants, and we take great pride in delivering this LEED Platinum certification for them, the waterfront community and our team who worked tirelessly on the building.”