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MINTO – MINTOMIDTOWN
MintoMidtown is located at the corner of
Yonge and Eglinton streets in Toronto.
ors of the luxury suites on floors 47
through 54 of the north tower, he says.
The two MintoMidtown towers are cen-
tered on a spectacular 12,000-square-foot
courtyard named the Anne Johnston
Courtyard, in honor of the longstanding
municipal councilor for North Toronto
who was a strong supporter of urban
intensification and Minto’s vision of a bet-
ter Toronto. “On Nov. 4th, Anne Johnston
and Toronto Mayor David Miller attended
a dedication ceremony to officially open
this public space for the city of Toronto.”
Wittrup remembers.
The finished courtyard is framed on both
sides by two large colonnades that stand
nearly five stories and are clad in limestone.
“It’s a beautiful feature of the project,”
Wittrup says, adding that the courtyard also
features custom stainless steel furniture and
136 ■ WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM ■ FEBRUARY 2009
a sculpture by a local artist.
“In an urban environment, it’s great to
have this space,” he continues, adding that
approximately 700 people pass through the
courtyard daily.
A Good, Green Neighbor
MintoMidtown reflects the company’s
focus on green, Wittrup says. He notes that
the project is the largest multi-residential
candidate development in Canada regis-
tered for LEED certification.
During the project, the company has
diverted more than 90 percent of its con-
struction waste from landfills to second-
ary use. In addition, MintoMidtown has
green features such as dual flush toilets,
water and electricity meters in every
suite, all-off switches at the front door
which turn off all hardwired lights in a
single flick, plus the development has an
on-site car sharing program in place.
MintoMidtown also features heat recov-
ery ventilation systems. These HRV units
are in every suite and provide filter-fresh
air for healthier living, Wittrup explains.
The buildings use rainwater harvesting
to irrigate landscaping, and motion con-
trol lighting in common areas ensure
that the lights are off when not in use,
Wittrup says.
Minto’s strong focus on customer serv-
ice has been a guiding principle since it
was founded more than 50 years ago,
Wittrup says. An example of this extra
level of attention is Minto’s Customer Care
program, which provides clients with serv-
ices from “the day [they] visit one of our
sales offices to when they move in and
beyond,” Wittrup says. It is this “customer-
centric” approach that distinguishes Minto.
Under this system, the company’s
processes are built around clients. For
instance, “Prior to the homeowner inspect-
ing their suite for the first time, each suite
goes through a stringent quality assurance
program,” Wittrup comments.
In addition, “Communication with our
customers throughout the sales and con-
struction phases is another keystone of our
Customer Care program,” he continues. “We
use the Internet, e-mails, newsletters,
telephone and in-person communica-
tions, including information sessions
like ‘Breakfast with the Builder,’ to keep in
touch and update our customers.”
Thanks to its strong focus on service,
Minto recently ranked highest in the Palm
Beach, Fla.-market and third in the nation
in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 New-
Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study.
Relationship Builders
The final suites in the north tower will be
completed by spring 2009, Wittrup says. At
the moment, finishing trades are working
on such aspects as flooring and cabinetry.
Wittrup adds that he is pleased with the
work of the company’s trades on the proj-
ect. “We’ve have always had very good
working relationships with our contrac-
tors,” he says.
These relationships, Wittrup says, are
critical to Minto’s success. “It is only as
a team that we can reach the heights of
sustainability and customer excellence that
we have at MintoMidtown.” ■