Silcon Construction Portfolio – Yorkdale Mall Hoardings
Interior & Exterior Hoarding Systems | Engineering for Scale, Safety & Shopper Experience
Project Overview
Hoarding at a property like Yorkdale Shopping Centre isn’t a standard construction task — it’s a precision coordination exercise conducted inside one of Canada’s highest-volume retail environments, where the shoppers keep coming regardless of what’s happening behind the wall.
Silcon Construction designed and installed hoarding systems for multiple projects at Yorkdale, spanning interior fitouts and a full exterior winter enclosure. Each installation required engineering for the specific physical conditions of the site — ceiling heights ranging from 26 to 42 feet, HVAC-driven wind loads through mall corridors, occupied and elevated spaces with limited footprint, and outdoor exposure to snow accumulation, wind, precipitation, and temperature fluctuation.
Across every scope, the objective was the same: protect the active construction zone, contain dust and debris, maintain a clean and safe experience for shoppers and adjacent tenants, and execute the installation and removal in overnight windows to minimize impact on daily mall operations.
Featured Installations
Lululemon Athletica
A 200-foot-long interior hoarding reaching heights of up to 42 feet — installed over three consecutive overnight shifts and removed in two, with the mall open for business throughout. Framed with light gauge steel stud systems engineered to resist the lateral wind loads present in Yorkdale’s high-ceiling corridor environment. The hoarding surface was finished, painted, and fully sealed to contain dust and debris and to maintain an uninterrupted shopper-facing environment throughout the construction period.
A fully enclosed hoarding system for a Shake Shack buildout in an elevated seating area — a constrained footprint with limited access and direct exposure to the occupied mall below. Walls were constructed to the full perimeter of the available space and enclosed overhead to contain dust and debris within the elevated zone. The overhead enclosure addressed the specific safety requirements of working above an active, high-traffic mall level, protecting shoppers and adjacent tenants throughout the construction period.
Seasonal hoarding systems deployed to create temporary functional spaces for Yorkdale’s holiday programming — including gift-wrapping stations, coat-check areas, and customer service counters. Built to mall finish standards with clean painted surfaces and integrated service openings, these structures demonstrated the versatility of hoarding as a tool for supporting property programming and tenant activations, not only active construction screening.
A fully enclosed exterior hoarding system installed along the building facade during winter, engineered to protect the active construction zone and the building itself from the elements. The roof system was designed to support accumulated snow loads and resist wind uplift, and was fully sealed against water infiltration. The interior of the enclosure was insulated to maintain workable temperature conditions for the construction crew throughout the winter months, with DensGlass sheathing applied to the exterior face for weather resistance and structural stability.
Project Execution – Step-by-Step Process
Site Assessment & Engineering Coordination
- Assessed ceiling heights, HVAC airflow patterns, structural anchor points, and access constraints specific to each hoarding location within the mall
- Coordinated engineering for wind load resistance — mall corridors generate significant air movement through HVAC systems, entrance doors, and building geometry that must be accounted for in the hoarding design
- For exterior installations, engineered the roof system to support accumulated snow loads and resist wind uplift throughout the winter season
- Aligned scope, schedule, and site access protocols with Yorkdale’s mall operations team prior to mobilization
Structural Framing & Anchoring
- Framed hoarding systems using light gauge steel studs for interior applications and heavy timber or engineered lumber for exterior enclosures, depending on load and exposure requirements
- Anchored all framing to floor and ceiling structure at engineered intervals to resist lateral wind and air pressure loads generated by mall HVAC systems and building airflow
- For exterior applications, designed and built roof framing systems capable of supporting accumulated snow loads and resisting wind uplift throughout the winter season
- All framing inspected against engineering specifications before sheathing proceeded
Sheathing, Sealing & Enclosure
- Applied DensGlass sheathing or equivalent weather-resistant boards to exterior hoarding structures, providing a durable, moisture-resistant cladding surface for the duration of the project
- Sealed all penetrations, joints, and connections on exterior enclosures to prevent water infiltration into the active construction zone
- For interior hoardings, installed overhead enclosure systems where required — including fully enclosed ceiling panels for elevated spaces — to contain dust and debris within the construction zone
- Insulated exterior enclosure walls and roof assemblies to maintain workable interior temperatures during winter construction conditions
Finishing & Surface Preparation
- Applied finish paint to all mall-facing hoarding surfaces to mall property management specifications — clean, neutral surfaces that blend into the retail environment and avoid drawing attention to active construction zones
- Installed hoarding-integrated access doors, service openings, and branded wrap panels where required by the tenant, operator, or property management team
- Confirmed all surfaces, transitions, and edges met Yorkdale’s presentation standards prior to the mall opening on the first operational day following installation
Ongoing Monitoring & Coordination
- Maintained regular site checks throughout the construction period to inspect hoarding structural integrity, surface condition, and seal continuity — particularly on exterior enclosures exposed to seasonal weather
- Coordinated with Yorkdale’s mall operations team throughout the project to manage any access requirements, maintenance needs, or adjustments to the hoarding configuration
- Responded to property management requests for modifications — including surface updates, access door relocations, and signage changes — within the approved overnight construction windows
Removal & Site Restoration
- All hoarding systems — interior and exterior — removed in planned overnight windows following construction completion, with no residual damage to mall finishes, flooring, or base building systems
- Site cleaned and restored to mall standard at each location, with adjacent tenant and public areas protected throughout the removal process
- Coordination with mall operations confirmed completion and sign-off at each stage
Project Highlights & Outcomes
