Waterfront Toronto and Menkes Developments unveiled plans for a new, commercial innovation centre that will bring 2,000 employees to Toronto’s waterfront and create high-paying jobs in creative and technology sectors.

The 350,000-square-foot complex will rise amid Sugar Beach in the emerging East Bayfront community and will help satisfy the city-approved, live-work-play development plan for the former industrial waterfront lands.

Plans call for a cutting-edge workplace that “reinvents how employees work together” with a network-friendly design and connection to the privately funded, ultra-high-speed broadband network.

Data-intensive industries, from film and television production to health care, are expected to benefit most from promised amenities like sophisticated audio-visual tools and enhanced digital facilities.

Peter Menkes, president of Menkes, said the private-sector development will foster a unique company culture and workspace configuration.

“There is growing demand from companies in the creative arts, film and television, digital media, R&D and technology industries for an alternative to traditional corporate office space,” he said. “For these firms, open concept collaborative workspaces not only foster innovation, but are integral to their economic success and competitiveness on both a Canadian and global scale.”

Dermot Sweeny, principal at Sweeny&Co Architects Inc., the firm designing the building, said the centre will strike the right balance between “private contemplation, collaboration, quality social interaction, discovery, exchange and work-life balance.”

Pre-leasing is now underway, with construction expected to start in late 2016. The East Bayfront area is already home to Corus Entertainment, George Brown College and two private sector mixed-use developments.