*Simons/electric car spaces. Rendering: Simons*

Edmonton’s Londonderry shopping centre is seeing an overhaul that will bring it into the 21st century. The centre’s completed renovations are already impressive — a new food court and washrooms opened over the summer, and new retailers are being added to the centre. Next year, Quebec City-based fashion retailer La Maison Simons will open an innovative 100,000 square foot store in the mall, also attracting a number of new retailers that are in discussions with landlord 20 VIC Management Inc.

This article features a number of photos of the centre prior to the renovation, as well as recent photos of the centre as renovations progress. The mall's new look is considerably more modern.

When it opened in 1972, Londonderry was the largest mall in Canada west of Toronto, and the only two-level mall in Western Canada. The 85 store mall was anchored by Eaton's, The Bay, Woolco, Safeway, and a movie theatre. In 1984, the mall added 65 additional stores and services. The two-level, 779,000 square foot centre now features over 150 shops and services, and is anchored by Hudson’s Bay, Winners, Save-On Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart.

*Click above for interactive Google Map.*

*Click above for interactive Londonderry shopping centre floor plan.*

Landlord 20 VIC Management announced plans to spend $130 million to overhaul the centre in the fall of 2014, including a full renovation of all mall common areas, the addition of a considerable number of new retailers, renovations of existing retailer spaces, new full-service dining experiences, a brand new relocated food court, as well as a lighting upgrade of all interior and exterior fixtures and a state-of-the-art security surveillance system. The project involves a partnership between MMC Architects and GH+A Design.

The recent completion of the Anthony Henday ring road opens up a new customer base, and expands the target trade area for Londonderry. Residents of the nearby affluent communities of St. Albert and Sherwood Park are now a 15 minute drive along the Henday to Londonderry -- which factored into 20 VIC's redevelopment strategy for the centre.

As the overhaul progresses, 20 VIC Management is in talks with a number of national and international retailers to open in the centre, which is expected to become one of the region’s top performing malls upon completion. The landlord continues to seek out new retailers as renovations continue.

*Before: Londonderry food court. Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

*After: A modern food court bathed in natural light. Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

*After: A modern food court with unified tenant branding. Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

*Before: Common areas in Londonderry. Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

*Before: Common area at Londonderry, featuring fountains. Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

*Attention: High Profile Sponsorship Opportunity: Retail Council of Canada will soon be launching its first annual research study on Canadian shopping centres, which will be distributed widely and promoted heavily. For information on Sponsorship opportunities, contact: cpatterson@retailcouncil.org*

*After: A dramatic modernization of Londonderry.* *Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

*After: New bright, modern retail corridor at Londonderry shopping centre. Flooring is a durable porcelain that looks like sandstone.* *Photo: 20 Vic Management Inc.*

La Maison Simons is scheduled to open its 100,800 square foot Londonderry store on August 24, 2017. The store will be particularly unique, featuring sustainable design that will self-generate over 50% of its overall electrical usage with the installation of a solar-electric system on the mall parking lot and on the store roof.

“We are thoroughly examining how we can reduce our environmental impact throughout the whole company, from the suppliers we work with to the raw materials we use”, said CEO Peter Simons. “Our stores are the visual and tactile part of the Simons experience so it is extremely important that we continue testing sustainability initiatives, like the latest in solar PV technology, on location where we interact with our customers.”

Simons’ new store will feature the addition of one of the largest solar-electric systems in a retail project in Canada including 700 solar-electric modules on the parking lot and 1100 modules on the roof. The solar energy-producing parking lot canopy will also protect customers and vehicles from the elements. The combined solar-electric system will generate 470,000 kWh/year (equivalent to 65 homes) and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300 tonnes/year. As well, electric car charging stations will be installed in the parking lot adjacent to the store.

Impressive entryway to the mall's main washrooms. Photo: Christa Patterson

Impressive new women's washroom, featuring natural light. Photo: Christa Patterson

Ceilings were raised two-feet as part of the mall overhaul, resulting in the ability to create taller store facades. Rogers is new, Stokes to the far right reflects the mall's previous ceiling height. Photo: Christa Patterson.

*New signage for Hudson's Bay department store. Photo: Christa Patterson*

*Construction continues on the mall's new Simons. Photo: Christa Patterson.*

*New wayfinding technology. Photo: Christa Patterson.*

The Simons store’s interior lighting will include LED lighting throughout the entire store as well as dimmable light fixtures adjacent to naturally lit areas of the store to maximize natural day light, reducing electricity devoted to lighting by more than 40%.

“With Edmonton being one of the sunniest cities in Canada, Londonderry was a natural testing ground for the latest in solar-electric technology,” said Jordan Adams, general manager, Londonderry shopping centre. “Simons is leading the way in leveraging innovation to create new standards for sustainability in retail and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them to bring visibility to solar technologies in Canada.”

*Before: Mall entrance. Photo: 20 VIC Management Inc.*

*After: Mall entrance. Photo: 20 VIC Management Inc.*

Simons announced its Londonderry store in January of 2015, following the October 2012 opening of a Simons location at West Edmonton Mall (the first Simons outside of the province of Quebec). The Londonderry Simons will differ from the West Edmonton Mall unit in a couple of ways — Londonderry will feature two fashion levels as opposed to one in the West Edmonton Mall store, and Londonderry's Simons will also feature an in-store café.

Construction is ongoing at Edmonton’s Londonderry shopping centre, with renovations expected to be completed before the fall of 2017. We’ll provide an update on the mall’s overhaul as construction nears completion, and more new tenants can be announced.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: October 13, 2016