There are five finalists in the Canada’s Best Restroom contest, sponsored by Cintas Corporation. Criteria was based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
The public is invited to vote for its top pick until October 24. The winner will receive $2,500 in facility services.
“This year’s nominees made it nearly impossible to narrow them down to only five finalists,” said Shawn King, marketing manager at Cintas Corporation. “These finalists truly understand the impact that being Ready and having a clean, well-maintained and stocked public restroom has on customer service and repeat business.”
W Montreal – Montreal, Québec:
W Montréal is the reflection of the city’s duality. Behind a former Bank façade, the hotel is where work and play merge both above and below ground, day and night. Its WCs embrace this duality, proving that design and function can coexist. The signature W fragrance, hand carved stone sink and immaculate styling provide for a sensory experience that extends the overall W energy.
Whitecourt Esso Super Station – Whitecourt, Alberta:
Decorative lighting mounted overhead immediately catches your eye in these restrooms along the Alaska Highway. The men’s restroom features brown monochrome design paired with decorative wall tiles, giving this modern restroom a classy look. The combination of straight and curve edges on the countertops creates an interesting piece of art. Meanwhile, white subway and mosaic tiles give the women’s space a sleek and clean feel. Decorative sconces and ornate carved mirrors are perfectly placed along the walls to add a final touch of elegance.
Sauce Italian Kitchen & Market – Calgary, Alberta:
The restrooms at the Sauce Italian Kitchen & Market are a true luxury. They feature a sculpted bronze handle on the solid wood door as you enter the space with calming luxury in every corner. The sparkle of the epoxy floor catches every eye. You’ll find high end polished chrome hardware on the full height white glass doors at the entry of each private stall with individual white Murano glass chandeliers. Each stall provides a fully enclosed space for privacy including a purse ledge and tall mirror. The vanity is what takes this restroom over the top. The fully accessible custom polished chrome base creates luxury for everyone using this space. Function has not been overlooked. This restroom utilizes only the best modern fixtures with touchless water flow on the lavatories and flushing of toilets.
East Village – Calgary, Alberta:
In August 2011, the Calgary Municipal Land Corp. installed these high-tech, self-cleaning public toilets in Calgary’s East Village. They cost US$125,000 to build and boast automated toilet roll dispensers, modern hand washing and drying facilities and self-flushing capabilities. The washrooms play music when the door is closed and locked, and a sanitized toilet seat emerges from the wall. After 10 minutes, the doors automatically open, so there’s no lingering in this loo. They also feature artwork displayed on the exterior walls, which changes every 24 months.
Assiniboine Park Lyric Theatre – Winnipeg, Manitoba:
The architecturally eye-catching, fun and colorful Assiniboine Park Lyric Theatre are constructed from three decommissioned forty-foot long sea containers. The innovative upcycling of these shipping containers solved both budget and construction constraints. The three containers add a fun feeling of modernity to the Park, juxtaposing the historical feel of the surrounding Lyric Theatre and Pavilion Gallery Museum buildings. The original yet practical design received the 2014 AZ Award for Design Excellence and the 2014 Prairie Design Award of Excellence.
