Wellesley Community Centre

Address: 495 Sherbourne Street
Architects: MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. and ZAS Architects Inc.
Landscape Architect: Gunta Mackars Landscape Architecture
Clients: City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library

Project Description

Beyond adding new amenity, the architecture itself breathes new life into the urban fabric with its rigorous geometry of shifting masses, large areas of glazing and vibrant materials.

The building serves as a westerly portal to the neighbourhood. Views into, out of and throughout the building are emphasized by an abundance of glazed curtain wall and strip windows. The abundance of glass also permits natural light to penetrate the interior. Frosted skylights give a tranquil glow to the corridors while transparent glazing brightly illuminates much of the public space.

Jurors' Comments

This architecturally dramatic, low-slung structure at the edge of St. James Town's forest of tall buildings is common ground for a library, athletic and childcare facilities, and other desirable neighbourhood amenities and services. It provides a bright, new social focus for Canada's most densely populated area, and injects visual freshness and vitality into a streetscape too long characterized by mediocre residential and institutional buildings from the mid-twentieth century.