Hazelton Lanes is renovating. The luxury boutique shopping centre in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood is making over its south courtyard in conjunction with a major expansion to its Canadian flagship store. Whole Foods will remain open as it expands from 40,000 to 50,000 square feet by September. Once finished, Whole Foods will run all the way from the North Atrium down to the South Courtyard.

Hazelton Lanes rendering

That courtyard is being renamed the Oval Square, and its transformation is designed by Johnson Chou Architects. Along with the Whole Foods expansion, Hazelton Lanes' various including TNT Woman, TNT Blu Concept, and TNT Gallerie, all Chou designs already, will be combined into a two-level boutique. Hazelton Lanes Shopping Centre intends to re-establish itself as a year round community hub for Bloor-Yorkville residents and surrounding neighbourhoods, with Oval Square at its centre.

Hazelton Lanes rendering

Located at the south end of the property, Oval Square aims for comfort and sophistication, offering visitors an inviting place in which to relax and unwind. It will feature: · An architecturally striking balustrade that wraps around the upper level of the courtyard, consisting of mezzanines and a variation of balconies accessible through openings in the archways. · A new boldly designed curved stairway - to serve as a key landmark for the centre and link the upper and lower potions of the square. · A variety of seating options to be enjoyed by patrons to the centre including cozy conversation areas with soft seating, built-in lunch bars, community tables and free standing tables as well as wi-fi connectivity. · A permanent raised platform/seating area that will double as a stage for special events such as celebrity appearances, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations and community events.

Hazelton Lanes rendering

You can read more about the plan in Hazelton Lanes' press release.

What do you think of the plan? Leave a comment here, or join in the discussion in UrbanToronto's thread for the project by clicking on the link below.