Markham District Energy’s first district energy system serves they City’s emerging downtown core known as Markham Centre.
In 1994, Markham Council adopted the Markham Centre Secondary Plan, which provided the framework for transforming Greenfield lands in the heart of Markham into a sustainable, vibrant and distinctive, mixed-use, transit-supportive downtown community. Bounded by Rodick Road to the west, Kennedy Road to the east, Highway 407 to the south, and Highway 7 to the north, Markham Centre when fully developed will be a community of over 30 million square feet of residential, commercial and institutional buildings and be home to 41,000 residents and 39,000 employees.
By the late 1990s, the deregulation of the Ontario power industry, the infamous 1998 ice storm and IBM Canada’s interest in locating a major facility in Markham Centre had created a unique opportunity for Markham to develop a community energy system in step with its new downtown.
Markham District Energy completed construction of the Warden Energy Centre in 2000 and commenced operations to its first customer, IBM Canada. It has since constructed two more energy centres, the Clegg Energy Centre and the Birchmount Energy Centre, to serve its growing system. Currently, Markham District Energy serves over 7 million square feet of buildings in Markham Centre with another 3 million square feet of buildings committed to district energy in various stages of construction. Markham District Energy’s Markham Centre customers are highlighted below.
Featured Markham Centre Customers
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Toronto Marriott Markham
A premiere hotel offering forward-thinking guest experiences coupled with aesthetically pleasing spaces, the Toronto Marriott Markham connected to Markham District Energy in 2017 and officially opened its doors for business in 2018. The hotel features sleek, modern guest rooms, an impressive double-storey lobby, top-rated food and beverage offerings, and numerous art installations and displays of Canadian artwork and photography.
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Aviva Canada
Connected to Markham District Energy in 2015, this 12-storey, 350,000 sq. ft., LEED certified commercial office building will be home to Aviva Canada’s national headquarters. Read more
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Markham Pan Am Centre
A 147,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose sport centre, Markham’s Pan Am Centre hosted four 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games competitions. The centre connected to Markham District Energy in 2014. Read more
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The Origin
Anchored by Cineplex VIP Cinemas, The Origin serves as the heart of Downtown Markham’s retail and dining district. It’s also home to 24-Hour GoodLife Fitness, Under Armour’s Canadian head office, York University’s incubator, YSpace, and Yamaha Music School. Visitors to The Origin, which connected to Markham District Energy in 2014, will also find art integrated into unexpected places throughout the complex.
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River Park
River Park, a 626,000 sq. ft. ensemble of low and high rise condominium residences, which connected to Markham District Energy in 2013, is the Times Group’s first phase of Uptown Markham, a master planned community built to LEED Gold standards.
Customers Connected and Committed to District Energy in Markham Centre
