Many shopping centres include basic fountains with mechanical sprays and bubbling ponds. Given that Shops at Don Mills is all about the experience, this distinctive urban village will dazzle visitors with a magnificent choreographed “water feature” unlike any other in Canada.
Designed by Karajaal, a water experience company based in Saint-Sauveur, Que., the Shops at Don Mills’ water feature is this country’s first robotic water feature and only the third in North America (the others being at Las Vegas’ Bellagio Hotel, and Los Angeles’ The Grove).
“We designed this water feature to complement the uniqueness of Shops at Don Mills,” explains Michel Huneault, president of Karajaal. “The three-piece elliptical basin is subtle, and reflects the minimalist and subtle architecture of its surroundings. There is something innate in the human soul that draws us to water. The water feature will inspire visitors to linger and return, so they can take in all of the elements of this new urban village.”
Unlike typical fountains which are mechanically driven, the Shops at Don Mills’ 45x35-foot water feature uses innovative robotics and automation technology to choreograph water and light in fascinating ways. Each of the feature’s 37 water elements are combined with a set of lights and programmed to create each movement and texture. Twice every hour, the water feature erupts into a four-minute spectacle. Sensors and pressure plates allow visitors to influence the choreography of water and light, creating a truly interactive experience for the visitors.
“The combination of light, water and movement is infinite,” says Michel, who counts the indoor water amphitheatre at Las Vegas’ Wynn Resort among Karajaal’s many creative achievements. “Robotics allows us to create water features that are constantly changing and can easily be reprogrammed and re-invented – either locally or remotely via the Internet – for special events or holidays.”
In keeping with the Shops at Don Mills’ green initiatives, Karajaal’s water feature uses low power devices such as LED and control drives to reduce overall power consumption and wear-and-tear. In fact, the combination of digital controls and LED technology requires only one-third of the power historically consumed by water features. Its innovative water filtration system minimizes chlorine use to reduce impact on the environment.
Be sure to visit this distinct water feature situated in the Shops at Don Mills’ Town Square. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.