BMO Place opens in Toronto: our future-ready workspace
Today, Darryl White came together with hundreds of our colleagues to celebrate the grand opening of BMO Place, our newest workspace located in the heart of downtown Toronto, steps from the Eaton Centre. The energizing morning kicked off with a “walk warm-up” for the BMO Walk so Kids Can Talk event, which raises funds and awareness for Kids Help Phone.
BMO committed to transforming this unique space in 2018 which was previously Eaton’s flagship department store and was later taken over by Sears. After years of significant renovations, including the addition of two soaring atriums, a large skylight at the top, and 12-foot-high windows, BMO Place offers stunning views of the Eaton Centre and Yonge Dundas Square and state-of-the-art technology, as well as flexibility and accessibility.
“We are thrilled to mark this moment in BMO’s history. Our new world-class workspace, part of our broader investment in our modernized global real estate footprint, has been designed to enable innovation, collaboration and growth,” said Cameron Fowler, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, BMO. “It fosters sustainable, accessible and inclusive work to support our colleagues, customers and the community and builds on similar investments in Milwaukee, Chicago, London, and New York City.”
Attendees were welcome with a breakfast, music, and a photo-op with BMO the Bear. During the opening ceremony, we were fortunate to have Elder Pauline Shirt conduct an Indigenous Blessing Ceremony and remarks were provided by Darryl White, Ernie Johannson and Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy. Sean Johnson, goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the United States national team, made a special guest appearance for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The celebration also marked the kick-off of the annual BMO Walk So Kids Can Talk campaign, which supports Kids Help Phone and raises funds and awareness for youth mental health. On May 7, thousands of Canadians will join the walk at 17 sites across the country. To register or donate, please visit https://walksokidscantalk.ca/.
Five interesting facts about BMO Place
- BMO Place is comprised of 350,000 sq. ft (32,516 sq. m) of workspace over four floors – each floor is almost the size of two football fields.
- BMO is committed to providing a workspace that supports and promotes diversity equity and inclusion. Inclusive design elements are incorporated throughout BMO Place such as braille and voice-enabled elevators, a wellness centre for meditation, prayer, or group activities, gender neutral washrooms, ergonomic workstations, outdoor spaces, and more.
- To foster personal connections and inspire future innovation, each space tells a narrative through art and design. Themes include innovation and community to showcase BMO’s past and future.
- The two atrium openings and skylight slopes were strategically placed. The offset design tracks sunlight and shadows from neighbouring towers for maximum light without amplifying the heat.
- BMO Place was once occupied by Eaton’s flagship department store. The interior escalators are a holdover from the retail sales floor. Eaton’s chose BMO to be their bank upon opening their first department store in Toronto in 1869.
