Toronto Star

Corporate architecture may have seen better days, but not necessarily better projects. Despite the dearth of commercial design excellence, there are exceptions. The latest is the new SAS Canada headquarters now under construction at 280 King St. E. Designed by David Clusiau of NORR, the eight-storey glass-and-steel box is the best thing to happen to this fast-changing neighbourhood in a long time. King St. E. has been transformed in recent years, of course, mostly by the condo boom, which has brought more residents to the area, especially where King meets Jarvis and Sherbourne Sts. But what has been lacking is commercial development. Though the old Safety Supply warehouse at Sherbourne has been renovated, as has the former Ontario Drug Company building farther east, there has been little in the way of new corporate building. With the arrival of privately owned software giant SAS, that's no longer the case. As it turns out, SAS is one of those rare examples of an enlightened business operation that understands the importance not just of architecture but also of its employees and the community.