Category: Vaughan

SmartCentres Declares Distribution for October 2026

SmartCentres Closes $150 Million Re-Opening of Series AC Senior Unsecured Debentures and $300 Million New Issue of Series AE Senior Unsecured Debentures

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust Announces New Issue of $300 Million Series AE and Re-Opening of $150 Millions Series AC Senior Unsecured Debentures

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust to Release 2026 Third Quarter Results and Host Conference Call

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January 17, 2023

Upgrade your lifestyle at The Millway by SmartLiving in the heart of the most connected Vaughan neighbourhood

Source: The Star

As a renter, you deserve better. That’s why you shouldn’t make compromises when it comes to the location, the amenities, the distance to transit, or perhaps even having to deal with an unreliable landlord.

You really can have it all. That is, if you rent at The Millway.

Located at the bustling Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7 and Highway 400, The Millway is apartment living refined. It’s completely designed for the modern renter, offering residents an urban lifestyle without compromise — spacious suites, premium finishes, thoughtfully designed amenities, and just steps away from ample greenspace, TTC subway access, shopping and restaurants.

The designer suites at The Millway feature stainless steel appliances, in-suite laundry, a waterfall island, full slab backsplash, quartz countertops, and designer finishes while the building offers state-of-the-art security and around the clock concierge, which means you’ll receive professional, reliable, and immediate service whenever you need it.

You’ll also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have security of tenure — meaning the legal right to continue living in your suite — as The Millway is owned and operated by SmartLiving, an industry leader backed by 30 years of experience.

The Millway’s exclusive offerings include a café-style lobby, coworking space, a 5th floor indoor/outdoor lounge, guest rooms, BBQ areas, a 36th floor sky lounge, plus residents have access to Super Amenities including an outdoor infinity pool, meeting rooms, K2 Ultimate Training Centre with cardio and weight training area, squash court, and an indoor running track.

Outside, there’s a one-acre, tree-lined park right at the foot of the building with walking paths, a children’s play area and dog park, an especially important detail for dog parents, as The Millway is pet-friendly.

Because The Millway is located in the heart of the new SmartVMC, residents can also enjoy all of the perks of this 100-acre master-planned community, including a 9-acre central park that features curved paths throughout, and a grand sunken lawn that can be used for community sports and large gatherings. It’s an epicentre for commerce, culture, recreation, open spaces, and urban living. Everything you need is right within your reach — banks, coffee shops, restaurants, day care centres, shopping, an outdoor LED wall, and public spaces that host Movies Under the Stars, the Vaughan International Music Festival, concerts, yoga classes, markets and more.

Best of all, it’s super connected — SmartVMC’s transit hub will take you everywhere in the Greater Toronto Area. The Millway is just steps away from the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre TTC subway station, connecting residents to TTC Line 1, putting York University, Union Station and Yorkdale Shopping Centre only minutes away. The VMC Viva Station is just steps away on Highway 7, providing rapid connection to Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Brampton, and a bus terminal directly across the street from The Millway within SmartVMC serves YRT, GO and Züm.

Be one of the first to live in this unique community and experience life at The Millway. Register now to tour at TheMillway.ca.

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SmartCentres Declares Distribution for October 2026

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SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust to Release 2026 Third Quarter Results and Host Conference Call

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December 9, 2022

SmartLiving’s The Millway is a brand new rental building in Vaughan’s new city centre

Source: BlogTO

Every Canadian has likely hopped off at a SmartCentres location near them at some point, the recognizable penguin statues beckoning them to come get all of their shopping done at their favourite retailers in one convenient place.

But, what some may not know is that after 30 years in business, SmartCentres has moved into the residential sphere with its SmartLiving arm.

Located in Vaughan’s new downtown core, the SmartVMC master planned community surrounds a major transit hub. Building on the success of five sold-out condo towers, The Millway offers a new type of rental living at SmartVMC. Residents can quickly connect to the TTC, York Rapid Transit, GO Transit, Züm, and VIVA.

Whether you believe you’ll be renting forever or simply don’t feel like traditional home ownership is the be-all-end-all, you can still live the life you want in SmartLiving’s The Millway, which elevates the conventional apartment building.

This elevated rental building is uniquely located within a giant, 100-acre master-planned community, to be completed with brand new parks and trails; office spaces; retail stores; a variety of transit options; arts and culture activations and events; and, of course, a variety of residential options including condos, townhomes and rental suites.

Located at the bustling Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7 and Jane Street, The Millway is a quick ride up the University subway line, close to the downtown core but without the downtown prices.

Being close to, but out of T.O.’s city centre and its traffic, living at The Millway also grants residents an easier trip to Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Brampton and other GTA cities by bus or car.

And besides, who needs to travel when you have every amenity you need right at your front door?

SmartVMC has amenities you’re familiar with from downtown living — a Balzac’s Coffee, PenguinPickUp, a BUCA (opening soon), outdoor patios, dog park, YMCA, a public library and more — but The Millway also has some amenities you won’t find in the city, like co-working spaces, an indoor running track, infinity pool, 36th-floor sky lounge and the largest LED art wall in Canada.

There’s also a 1-acre park at the foot of The Millway, designed by renowned landscape architect Claude Cormier.

The event programming could rival any downtown city centre, with things like movies under the stars, music festivals and concerts, and yoga in the park — all perfect opportunities to meet your new neighbours.

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April 6, 2022

SmartCentres’ mixed use art district in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre

Source: World Architecture News

The first phase of ArtWalk includes three residential buildings within walking distance of transit, urban amenities and a 9 acre park, with Hariri Pontarini Architects behind the architecture and interiors

Plans for the next block of SmartCentres’ 100 acre, 20 million sq ft SmartVMC city centre have been revealed. The ArtWalk district will include a block of mixed use developments, by SmartLiving, SmartCentres’ residential development brand.

Bordered by Portage Parkway to the north and Apple Mill Road to the south, ArtWalk will be developed in four phases, the first with 38 storey and 18 storey towers on top of a shared podium, alongside a six storey mixed use residence building with retail at grade.

Hariri Pontarini Architects’ plan calls for a variety of heights, floorplates, and suite sizes to accommodate the residents anticipated for the community. The architecture utilises natural materials and colour palettes, creating variation between the buildings, while crafting a striking skyline.

The project’s amenity rich programming offers residents outdoor terraces with gardens, an outdoor movie area, intimate lounge seating with firepits, as well as outdoor dining space with BBQs. An indoor outdoor childrens’ play area will be offered, as well as a 2,500 sq ft co-working space facing the courtyard.

The double height co-working space features neutral tones and a community café. A spiral staircase leads to a reading lounge with a range of spaces that can be used for quiet time or chatting up with friends.

A shared courtyard is framed by common areas and amenities to encourage activity along the ground floor and build a sense of community. All residents will have access to the amenities in the development, offered across the three buildings.

Designed as a future ready building, WiFi will be offered in all common areas, amenities can be booked via a mobile app and suites will include smart thermostats and keyless entry.

ArtWalk is located across the street from TTC subway access, the SmartVMC Bus Terminal, and provides access to Highways 400 and 7 within minutes.

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SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust to Release 2026 Third Quarter Results and Host Conference Call

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March 9, 2022

Thousands More People To Call Vaughan’s Emerging Downtown Home In Future

Source: The Star

A total of 2,628 units are under construction, which could accommodate approximately 5,203 more residents

During peak hours, school buses and cars at the intersection of Apple Mill Road and Millway Avenue — the heart of Vaughan’s emerging downtown core — patiently wait their turns. Pedestrians, too, walk in and out of the subway station nearby, creating some buzz.

“From 4 to 6 p.m., this is like the most heavy traffic,” said Anupam Dwijendra, a father of one child, who moved in with his family to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre nine months ago after bidding his previous home, at a more populous and busier Toronto area, goodbye.

Dwijendra is one of the relatively new occupants of the completed eight condos, which currently total 3,900 units and house about 7,722 residents.

“But usually when you come here (during non-peak hours), it’s mostly deserted,” Dwijendra added. “I think that’s because it’s still developing, and people are still coming in.”

The completed condos — all occupied — are Transit City’s three towers, Expo City’s two towers, North Condos’ two towers, and a condo called The Met.

However, more units are still under construction.

The developer Menkes & QuadReal is building Block 2 — also called Mobilio, which has 751 apartment units and 397 townhouses — and Block 3 — called Festival that comes with 2,470 apartment units.

SmartCentres is developing Transit City — towers 4 and 5 — and a purpose-built rental building, bringing its total to 1,480 units. And, Cortel is developing CG Tower, which has 551 units.

“Realization of developments that are occupied, under construction and approved currently represent more than 29,100 residents in more than 14,700 units moving into the VMC,” the City of Vaughan said.

“This represents 123 per cent of the residential units and 116 per cent of the population target established for the 2031 planning horizon,” it added.

The city also gave these figures:

• 3,900 units or approximately 7,722 residents in developments that are completed and occupied

• 2,628 units or approximately 5,203 future residents in developments that are under construction

• 8,176 units or approximately 16,188 potential future residents in developments that are approved by council

The city added there are 13,662 units or about 27,051 in potential future residents in formally-submitted development applications are in progress. Also, pre-application development proposals show 6,218 units or approximately 12,312 potential future residents.

As the new downtown inches closer to completion, it’s also adding the first Buca-branded restaurant and bar outside Toronto — at the Transit condo tower.

The addition is another higher-end brand, joining Balzac’s coffee shop, already serving people there.

Dwijendra, who described Balzac’s as special, said he would like to see more common brands like Tim Hortons.

“Tim Hortons feels more like home, so they can have more of these familiar kind of stores,” he said.

Others also have pitched in with their input.

“It just needs to get more stores to add life here,” said Adam Williams, an Egyptian student, who is visiting his sister at the VMC.

Anastasia Gale, who lives in an area near the new downtown, suggested the square in vicinity of the VMC subway station could showcase artwork of various artists.

“The square over there would be perfect for public art,” Gale said, adding it would be “lovely” to showcase the work of multicultural artists given that the area is diverse.

Last September, food trucks, an art exhibition and drive-in movie theatres gave people a taste of culture.

“It definitely left an impression on me. I took a video I shared with my friends and everything,” said Dwijendra. “If more of that could happen, that would be amazing.”

So far, the Vaughan International Music Festival is planned to take place from June 10 to 12 after its soft launch last year.

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November 19, 2021

ArtWalk’s Three Towers Will Overlook a Nine-acre Central Park and Aim to Give Toronto’s Core a Run for its Money

Source: National Post

It wouldn’t be surprising to find the artist birdO’s massive outdoor mural of a kingfisher, with its technicolor plumage and bright red beak, in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, where big, trippy murals trail more than 50 blocks. Or even in downtown Toronto.

But this is Vaughan.

“We wanted to bring people together in a COVID-free way,” says Mandy Mail, vice-president of marketing for SmartCentres, who explains the art initiative – along with food trucks and free drive-in movies – was to set the stage for a new mixed-use development called ArtWalk.

The project is part of the 100-acre master-planned community within the 400-acre Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, or SmartVMC, a development that comes with a subway on its doorstep, at Jane and Highway 7.

Developed by SmartLiving, the residential branch of SmartCentres — the retail giant responsible for Walmart-anchored plazas in Canada — the ArtWalk district shares its name with the condominium planned for its core.

In addition to murals, street food and movies, extensive public art is planned for the new community. The PXL Gallery, for instance, launched this past summer. “It’s like a giant Lite-Brite,” says Mail of the 10,000-square-foot outdoor installation. “Because it’s low-resolution, it has beautiful movement. It feels fuzzy, like a memory.”

She adds, “Out of all 100 acres, for me [ArtWalk] is the prime real estate within SmartVMC. It is kitty corner to a nine-acre central park and steps from a new library and a YMCA.”

A mix of materials and palettes are being used to impart variation among the buildings. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY SMARTCENTRES

Bordered by Portage Parkway to the north and Apple Mill Road to the south, ArtWalk is unrolling in four phases. Phase 1 is three mixed-use towers: thirty-eight storeys and 18 storeys that are linked by a podium, alongside a separate six-storey “jewel-box residence” with retail at grade. Suites in the tallest tower range from 500 to 900 square feet. Pricing is not available yet; occupancy is set for January 2026.

Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the buildings will offer a range of floorplates and suite sizes. A European-inspired shared central courtyard will have retail at grade and an urban vibe. A range of natural materials and colour palettes are meant to create variation among the buildings.

Multiple outdoor terraces with gardens, an outdoor movie area, lounge seating with firepits, as well as an outdoor dining space with barbecues are in the plans.

There will also be an indoor/outdoor children’s play area and a 2,500-square-foot co-working space with a sculptural spiral staircase that faces the central courtyard.

Wi-Fi will be available in all common areas and amenities can be booked via mobile app. Suites will include smart thermostats and keyless entry.

“SmartVMC has 20 million square feet of planned development; 3.5 million of that is built or under construction,” says Mail.

The monumental venture started with the launch in 2017 of Transit City, the five towers to the east of ArtWalk. “The demand was unprecedented,” says Mail. “There were 2,500 real estate agents lined up around the corner.”

Originally, it was only going to be one 36-storey tower, says Mail. But interest was strong and the design was adjusted to make it 55 storeys. Pretty soon, a second tower was added, followed by a third, fourth and fifth.

Mail believes COVID concerns have spurred the trend of Canadians relocating from downtown.

“SmartVMC gives them the benefit of life north of the city, but they don’t lose the energy and vibrancy of being in the city centre,” says Mail, who notes a Buca restaurant will be opening in the base of Transit City’s Tower 1, with a goal to bring in additional culinary offerings in the future.

Amenities include a 2,500-square-foot co-working space with a sculptural spiral staircase that faces the central courtyard. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY SMARTCENTRES

But one of the community’s biggest draws, Mail adds, is transit connectivity.

“As I’m looking out my window, I’m two steps away from the subway station. You have the TTC on site, you have the regional bus terminal. You’re five minutes to York University, and 40 minutes to downtown Toronto.”

The construction of the subway was a game-changer in VMC’s story. In the 1990s, SmartCentres focused on finding key locations to introduce Walmart to Canadians.

“We would typically buy 25 to 30 acres of land,” says Mail. “But the seller of [the VMC parcel] at the time refused to split it.” Serendipitously, they ended up with 100 acres.

Then SmartCentres’ founder Mitchell Goldhar got “the call every developer dreams of,” says Mail. The TTC asked if they could extend the subway line so that it terminated at the property.

“Nobody is going to say no to that,” says Mail. “A subway is typically built in a densely populated area to relieve traffic,” but the City recognized that the vacant land had potential.

Cities like London or Paris revolve around open space, Mail notes. “You think of the square: the piazzas in Italy, the big parks in London. Instead of maximizing density and financial gain, the first thing we planned is a nine-acre park.”

The green space runs one block across the property. “It’s the true heart of the community,” says Mail. “We think of open space as the music and the architecture as the lyrics. The building is built around the open space to complement it versus building being the prime focus.”

Suites in ArtWalk’s 38-storey tower range in size from 500 to 900 square feet. Pricing is not available yet. For more information, visit artwalkcondos.com.

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October 5, 2021

SmartCentres Unveils ArtWalk Condos at SmartVMC in Vaughan

Source: UrbanToronto

It doesn’t seem all that long since the centre of Vaughan was just big box stores amid acres of parking… but then the subway arrived with the opening of Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station, and the area has been on a tear ever since. SmartCentres REIT, who own 100 acres adjacent to the station, took the opportunity of the new direct accessibility to Downtown Toronto to make best use of the land through a master plan they developed, gradually bringing a new 20M ft² City Centre to Vaughan surrounding a 9-acre central park.

Looking through the proposed Central Park at SmartVMC, designed by Claude Cormier + Associes for SmartCentres REIT

The plan, developed with Diamond Schmitt Architects and Claude Cormier + Associés, has quickly brought quite a bit of new development to the area that’s just a minute’s drive from Highways 400 and 7. “With five sold out world-class residential towers, and two leased out award-winning office towers, SmartVMC is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada,” Mitchell Goldhar, Executive Chairman and CEO of SmartCentres REIT told us. “This emerging city centre has unparalleled transit connectivity, including a TTC Subway Station and York Regional Bus Terminal on site.”

The first three Transit City towers behind the Smart VMC Bus Terminal, and PwC Building with Library to the left, image by Edward Skira

While current construction immediately to the east is adding more residential buildings, the next parcel of land to be developed has now been revealed; just to the west of Transit City will be the mixed-use ArtWalk District. Launched this past summer with a series of “accessible, experiential art and culture activations,” the ArtWalk District was kicked off with 30,000 ft² of murals painted by acclaimed local and international artists including Ricardo Cavolo, birdO, Ben Johnston, and Jeremy Shantz. Currently, the murals provide a colourful backdrop for ArtWalk’s food truck market, and for a series of free drive-in movies that run every Thursday and Saturday evening.

Mural by renowned Barcelona-based artist Ricardo Cavolo at ArtWalk, image courtesy of SmartCentres

New developments will transform the art district with a four-phase block of new, mixed-use developments from SmartLiving, SmartCentres’ wholly owned in-house residential development brand. The first of these is ArtWalk Condos Phase 1. Goldhar continued “ArtWalk Condos represent our next phase of new residential buildings within SmartVMC; a pedestrian and public art-oriented neighbourhood within a vibrant new city centre. ArtWalk Condos is located at the nexus of a brand-new YMCA and public library, a series of striking public art installations, and a spectacular 9-acre central park that will serve as the heartbeat of the whole community.”

Looking southwest to ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

Designed by renowned Hariri Pontarini Architects, the first phase of ArtWalk is just to the west of the library, an arrangement of four buildings that will rise around an integrated courtyard. HPA is leading both the architecture and interiors for this phase, bringing varying building and suite sizes to accommodate a diverse range of people and lifestyles. The design is detailed and welcoming, featuring natural materials and colour palettes, “purposefully creating variation between all the buildings while crafting a striking skyline.”

Looking southwest to ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

The tallest of the four buildings is a 38-storey residential tower at the east end of the courtyard and fronting Buttermill Avenue. It will be joined by a 3-storey podium to an 18-storey residential building on the north side of the courtyard. To the south will be a 6-storey residential building, low enough to allow sunlight to flood the courtyard. At the southeast corner of the site, at the corner of Apple Mill and Buttermill will be a 4-storey mixed-use building. The base of the 6-storey building will feature a co-working space and café which spills into and animates the courtyard. Coverage of the site is 4.63 times, with a total gross floor area of 51,124m², in a mix of 50,281m² of residential space and 590m² of retail. The three buildings count a total of 627 residential units. A single-level underground garage provides 220 parking spaces to serve residents, employees, and visitors, while parking for 383 bicycles is also included.

Courtyard at ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

Residents of all three buildings will enjoy access to a full roster of amenities in the development, arranged around the courtyard to foster activity and interactions between residents, creating an urban neighbourhood feeling and build a sense of community. Amenities will include multiple lushly landscaped terraces with gardens that variously boast an outdoor dining space with barbecues, intimate lounge seating with firepits, and even an outdoor movie area. Families will benefit from an indoor/outdoor children’s play area, while those working from home will have use of an expansive 2,500 ft² co-working centre facing the courtyard. The double-height co-working space is designed with neutral tones to provide a calming, focus-supporting environment, and a community café will be at hand. A spiral staircase, see below at the back, leads to a breakout area to chat with co-workers or friends.

Co-working space at ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

ArtWalk will be future-ready when delivered, with WiFi will be offered in all common areas, and an app available for all residents to book amenities, control smart thermostats in suites, provide keyless entry, and more. According to Goldhar, the same holistic approach to master planning SmartVMC has been applied to ArtWalk, including “the active integration of art and culture, the pedestrian focus, and the thoughtful consideration of connectivity with the surrounding amenities.”

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August 24, 2021

SmartCentres unveils a permanent 10,000 square foot art installation

Source: Building.ca

SmartCentres unveiled the PXL Gallery, a 10,000 square foot low resolution LED permanent art installation that features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork by acclaimed digital artists.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

Located in SmartVMC, SmartCentres’ flagship 100-acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan, the gallery adorns the façade of one of the residential towers. The PXL Gallery is only one of many high-impact art installations that have debuted in Vaughan’s new city centre this summer.

“The PXL Gallery at SmartVMC introduces digital art, a progressive contemporary art form that is on the rise,” says Mitchell Goldhar, Executive Chairman, SmartCentres. “The PXL Gallery is a 10,000 square foot LED canvas, integrated into the building’s design, at the nexus of three 55-storey residential towers, the TTC subway station and the new regional bus terminal. The PXL Gallery brings new meaning to hanging art on the wall.”

The PXL Gallery’s inaugural artwork was curated in collaboration with the City of Vaughan’s Senior Art Curator, Sharon Gaum-Kuchar. An open call for submissions invited artists to submit proposals of their vision. Acclaimed artists Jim Campbell, Rafaël Rozendaal and Rob King were awarded commissions, and their artwork will be the PXL Gallery’s first three rotational features.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

“Public art is an urban design mechanism that brings vibrancy to the forefront, and gives a personality to the city,” says Ms. Gaum-Kuchar. “The PXL Gallery is theatrical and dynamic. It is not a static entity. The artist’s work is constantly morphing and evolving, and the resulting effect is a sense of transformation that really aligns with the vision for SmartVMC.”

Along with creating artwork for an upcoming PXL Gallery exhibit, San Francisco-based artist and digital pioneer, Jim Campbell, was instrumental in the design and development of the PXL Gallery. Known for his contemporary, low-resolution LED lightworks, Campbell worked alongside SmartCentres, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Studio F Minus and Mulvey & Banani Lighting to investigate LED technology, glass, frit patterns and input standards while conducting substantial testing on the infrastructure supporting the gallery.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

On display now is Silence, by Rafaël Rozendaal. Based in New York, Rafaël Rozendaal is a Dutch-Brazilian artist who uses the internet as his canvas. Silence is a digital artwork consisting of three ambient moving images. The works are almost abstract, but a suggestion of space and movement hint at experiences of landscape and travel. With restrained, minimal elements of color and rhythm, a maximal experience is created of immersion and contemplation.

Jim Campbell’s work will debut this fall, followed by digital art by Rob King. Best viewed after sundown, the PXL Gallery’s summer hours are daily between 9:00pm and 12:00am. It is located on the west side of Millway Avenue between Portage Parkway and Apple Mill Road in SmartVMC.

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August 20, 2021

SmartCentres unveils largest digital art gallery of its kind in Canada

Source: REMI Network

SmartCentres unveiled Canada’s largest low-res LED art installation, with permanent status, in SmartVMC, its flagship 100-acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan.

At 10,000 square feet, PXL Gallery adorns the façade of one of SmartVMC’s condominium towers and features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork created by acclaimed digital artists. The LED canvas is integrated into the building’s design and overlooks the on-site SmartVMC regional bus terminal and the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre TTC subway station.

Digital art has been getting trendier over the past decade as technology evolves. As a medium, it offers much versatility. As the City of Vaughan’s Senior Art Curator, Sharon Gaum-Kuchar, explains, “public art is an urban design mechanism that brings vibrancy to the forefront, and gives a personality to the city.”

“The PXL Gallery is theatrical and dynamic,” she adds. “It is not a static entity. The artist’s work is constantly morphing and evolving, and the resulting effect is a sense of transformation that really aligns with the vision for SmartVMC.”

An open call for submissions invited artists to submit proposals of their vision. Artists Jim Campbell, Rafaël Rozendaal and Rob King were awarded commissions, and their artwork will be the PXL Gallery’s first three rotational features.

San Francisco-based artist and digital pioneer, Campbell, was instrumental in the design and development of the PXL Gallery. Known for his contemporary, low-resolution LED lightworks, Campbell worked alongside SmartCentres, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Studio F Minus and Mulvey & Banani Lighting to investigate LED technology, glass, frit patterns and input standards while conducting substantial testing on the infrastructure supporting the gallery.

Photo courtesy of SmartCentres.

Best viewed after sundown, the PXL Gallery’s summer hours are daily between 9:00pm and 12:00am. It is located on the west side of Millway Avenue between Portage Parkway and Apple Mill Road in SmartVMC.

Feature photo courtesy of SmartCentres

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July 28, 2021

A look at four zany and psychedelic new murals in Vaughan

Source: Toronto Life

ArtWalk is a new culture venue in the developing Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area. It’s part of a 100-acre master-planned hub, SmartVMC, and launched this summer by transforming a vacant warehouse with 30,000 square feet of art. The space is an attractive backdrop to ArtWalk’s daily food truck market and drive-in movie screenings, running every weekend through September. And the murals, by local and international artists, were painted over a three-week period in June using 1,000 cans of paint. Here’s a closer look at the art.

Here Comes the Sun

Ricardo Cavolo is a Madrid-based artist known for eccentric and comic-inspired creations. His mural takes over the southern façade of the warehouse, and he directed the painting from Spain. “The worst part of this process was not being there, but the best part has been realizing this kind of magic is possible even when I’m in a different country,” says Cavolo. The bold colours and sunny, vibrant illustrations are meant to symbolize the power of sharing your inner light with the world to get through turbulent times.

Better Together

Toronto artist Ben Johnston—who has painted murals in Serbia, India, Colombia and across North America—stamped his characteristic typography onto the northern façade of the building, using bold pinks and reds. “The colours are associated with joy, warmth, sunshine, enthusiasm and optimism,” says Johnston. “Now more than ever, we need to work together to create a better future.”

Birds of a Feather

Multidisciplinary artist Jerry Rugg, known in street-art circles as BirdO, added his signature blend of animals and geometric shapes to the western façade of the warehouse. For this project, Rugg wanted to include a long-beaked kingfisher, which would fit his horizontal canvas perfectly. “My style is a merging of my interests: graffiti that pops up in unexpected places, surrealism that’s conceptually strange and graphic design that assembles the parts in a harmonious way,” says Rugg.

An Exploration of Our Timespace

The central figure in Montreal-based Jeremy Shantz’s abstract piece on the eastern façade is a disembodied character floating in a liminal space. Shantz created the drawing and worked with local artists to complete the project, in order to illustrate the different elements it takes to build a community. “Mural art is a fantastic platform for collaboration,” he says. “The talented artists interpreted the drawing through their hands, creating the most beautiful work of art.”

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