Amazon’s YYZ14 office at 120 Bremner Boulevard in Toronto has launched the first Just Walk Out technology store at an Amazon office in Canada, with a second location planned for the YYZ18 office at 18 York Street later this year.
The store at YYZ14 offers a variety of ‘grab and go’ food and beverages from brands including Greenhouse, Cove Gut Healthy Drinks, and Well.
Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), including computer vision, machine learning, and generative AI, as well as sensor fusion, Just Walk Out technology enables shoppers to grab what they want and simply leave the store, said the company.
To enter the store, Amazon employees use their credit card at the entry gate. Just Walk Out technology associates the shopper with their payment instrument, and detects the items taken from or returned to store shelves, creating a virtual shopping session. When employees have completed their visit, they simply leave the store, and their payment instrument will be charged for the items they took with them.
“Just Walk Out technology has been a game-changer for shoppers around the world, removing the part of the shopping experience they enjoy the least – standing in line to pay – and allowing them to get on with their day more quickly,” said Jon Jenkins, Vice President, Just Walk Out technology. “It’s exciting to bring this innovative technology to more of our employees, and we look forward to continuing to expand to new locations across Canada.”
Today, Just Walk Out technology is available in more than 180 third-party locations in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia, with new locations launching every week. In Canada, Just Walk Out technology stores can be found at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
On Thursday, Amazon announced the latest developments at its Vancouver and Toronto Tech Hubs, introducing new features and office space for more than 8,500 corporate and technology employees.
A new 43,000 square foot atrium opened at The Post, the flagship office building at Amazon’s Vancouver Tech Hub, where more than 4,500 employees work across business teams including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Worldwide Amazon Stores and Devices.
The company said the open-plan, light-filled atrium will provide new collaboration spaces for Amazon employees, including a café, event venue, break-out areas, and meeting rooms. Designed by B+H Architects, the atrium features 22-foot high ceilings and a nod to the building’s history as Vancouver’s Main Post Office, including an 18-foot mural resembling a pixelated postage stamp. Upon closer inspection, the mural features individual mailbox doors that date back to the building’s 1960s origin.
The Post has historical significance for Vancouver, and its original architecture was restored as part of an ambitious heritage redevelopment by property developer and manager QuadReal Property Group and MCM Architects. The Post’s building systems are on track to achieve LEED Gold Certification, and leverage waste heat recovery, passive solar shading, light shelves that reflect daylight into the interior and an energy-efficient building envelope. The adaptive reuse of the building’s existing central podium saved approximately 25,000 tonnes of carbon and diverted significant construction waste from local landfills.
“Our investment in The Post reflects Amazon’s continued commitment to our Vancouver Tech Hub,” said Jesse Dougherty, Amazon VP. “This new space will be an ideal location for our teams to gather and invent on behalf of customers. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the impact of Amazon’s investments in downtown Vancouver, bringing thousands of employees to the city centre in a building that also offers retail and other amenities for the broader community to enjoy.”
Amazon is the sole corporate tenant at The Post, with its 1.1 million square feet of office space that includes the new atrium connecting a 21-floor South Tower and 22-floor North Tower. Amazon completed its move-in to the South Tower earlier this year, while the North Tower is on track to open in 2026.
“Amazon has been a key member of B.C.’s strong tech sector, and their continued commitment in the Vancouver Tech Hub at The Post will provide jobs for people, and signal to other businesses that this is the place to anchor and grow,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “For years now, Vancouver has been the fastest growing tech hub in North America, and we’re driving new investment, creating new jobs and more opportunities to build an economy that works for everyone.”
At Amazon’s Toronto Tech Hub, where 3,500 employees work, Amazon plans to add three new floors at its YYZ18 office at 18 York Street in late 2024, adding 79,000 square feet of space.
To learn more about Amazon’s impact in Canada, click here.
