Case Study: Holt Renfrew achieves a cohesive flagship façade and stronger street presence with Gensler

Holt Renfrew unifies 5 buildings with Gensler for a stronger flagship facade

Holt Renfrew, a luxury retailer with a flagship store in downtown Toronto, faced the challenge of a disjointed facade and outdated window displays that weakened its visual presence on a prominent shopping street. The company engaged the architecture firm Gensler to reposition its exterior and create a more cohesive and impactful storefront.

Gensler devised a strategy to unify five separate buildings into a single, cohesive facade. The solution included replacing the worn marble cladding with fossil-rich limestone for texture and replacing the window displays with large, clear glass panels to provide unobstructed views into the store. The revitalized main entrance features a bronze-anodized aluminum canopy. The work by Gensler gave the luxury retailer a strong, unified street-level presence and brought more natural light into the store.

Holt Renfrew