Gay Lea Foods Cooperative Ltd. is a Canadian cooperative that manufactures dairy products for retail, foodservice, industrial, and export markets. With numerous plants across Ontario, Gay Lea is owned and operated by Ontario milk producers and currently represents thirty-five per cent of all Ontario dairy farms.

Engaged as design-builders, Allyant retrofitted an existing warehouse building to create a new research and development Innovation Centre for Gay Lea’s Salerno Division. The renovation included a complete interior and roof demolition, and the addition of a state of the art two story innovation centre with pilot plant, quality and control laboratory, training rooms, demonstration kitchen, offices, elevator, and amenities. The building finishes are durable and cleanable yet vibrant and welcoming, meeting both uses as a research laboratory and as a meeting (kitchen) space. New mechanical systems provide the required conditioned air supply and exhaust, and a new electrical service provides power throughout. Lighting was both functional and decorative in keeping with the use of space.

In addition to internal research and development, this new space is also used for interaction with the public at large via workshops and demonstrations.