Thomson Corporation had grown from a single Canadian newspaper, the Timmins Daily Press, acquired in 1934 by Roy Thomson, First Baron Thomson of Fleet, into one of the largest publishing empires in the world. In 2008, it purchased Reuters Group to form Thomson Reuters. The Thomson Corporation was active in financial services, healthcare sectors, law, science & technology research, and tax & accounting sectors. Thomson also continues to own the Globe and Mail, the self-described ‘national newspaper of Canada,’ which is part of Thomson Financial. Control of the company has long rested in the hands of founder Roy Thomson’s son, Kenneth, Canada’s richest man and heir to his father’s title, Lord Thomson of Fleet.
Although a high traffic thoroughfare for tenants and visitors, the rear entrance and surrounding courtyard of the Thomson Building had not been upgraded in the lifespan of the building. Starting with the merging of the two public lobbies, DePM worked with the existing finishes of the front entrance to integrate the entire space. The courtyard of the building underwent a complete removal and replacement of the concrete slab and waterproof membrane. New custom railings and planter boxes were installed along with high-end lighting from Selux and outdoor furniture. Lastly, the front and side facades of the building were illuminated with flood lighting to help this prestigious building stand out amongst the busy downtown core at night.
With the installation of the SILL® PR022 floodlights with narrow spot configurations along its exterior walls, the building now stands as a beacon of illumination in downtown Toronto.