Midtown

The Midtown redevelopment started with a complete renovation of the mall’s two-level interiors and underground parking facility in Phase 1. The common mall area received new finishes from floor to ceiling, LED lighting and vertical transportation with direct access to the parkade. Retailers were also provided with a new Design Criteria to implement the same design quality to the storefronts as the mall interiors.

 

Other key areas of Phase 1 are the newly renovated washrooms, the Midtown Tower office lobby, security office and parkade lobbies. The Midtown Tower lobby is highlighted by full height glazing, bright porcelain finishes and an interactive digital directory, giving it a unique presence within the shopping centre. The underground parkade lobbies which also includes the security office, received a significant overhaul to create an inviting and convenient atmosphere for the shoppers. New features include a new wayfinding system, pay stations, finishes, LED lighting and a historic artwork wall.

 

As part of Phase 2 or the Sears Redevelopment at Midtown, a 48,000 square foot Food Hall concept has been imagined on the Upper Level at the former back of the building. The decision to take the food hall to the Upper Level was inspired by the views of the Saskatchewan River to the south west. The Food hall offers an experience and destination that embraced and reached out to a part of the city that has recently experienced significant growth to become the cultural and social centre of Saskatoon.

 

Designed to embody a market-like atmosphere with an industrial aesthetic, the food hall has a natural material palette of exposed concrete and steel channels softened with accents of high gloss black tile and Douglas Fir wood panels. Sandblasted concrete columns reach up to the ceiling design which pulls the entire space together with a mix of exposed existing concrete waffle slab with suspended wood ceiling panels at the food court unit storefronts.

 

The Tenant Design Criteria for the Food Court Units is a continuation of this aesthetic with black C-Channels suspended from the ceiling, that run the length of their store. The demising walls of each food court unit is finished with the high gloss black tile 6’ into each unit. In an effort to manage the overall concept for the food hall, each tenant was given 3 options to choose from for their storefronts finishes, with a mix of marble, wood & concrete.

 

The new food hall has a wide variety of seating options, with large family style banquet tables dominating the centre with eight, 8’ diameter oversized steel drum pendant light fixtures. Lounge type seating around the perimeter, adjacent to the floor to ceiling windows which overlook the new exterior market square.