Background
Since its opening in 1965, Nathan Phillips Square (NPS) in Toronto, Ontario has served as the City’s premier public space and civic gathering place, a leading tourist attraction for the City, and a national and provincial landmark.
Each year, over 1.5 million people visit Nathan Phillips Square for special events and a variety of community activities from ushering in the New Year to skating under its Freedom Arches.
While the Square has many successful attributes, the City has long recognized that some of the features on the Square have been underdeveloped and poorly used since the Square was originally designed. Some of its structures and facilities have fallen into a state of disrepair, have been closed, and no longer meet the needs of today’s users and programs.
Modern-day alterations and upgrades are required to meet the new functional requirements of the Square and allow a greater variety of activities and special events.
Through a bold and rigorous design competition and with a commitment to design excellence, in 2007 the Competition Jury for the Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Design Competition selected a forward-thinking, innovative design from the team led by Plant Architect Inc. & Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners in Joint Venture from over forty-eight submissions from around the world.
The winning design respects and restores the beauty and dignity of the original vision of the Square by Finnish architect Viljo Revell and preserves and enhances its unique heritage qualities.
Through this winning design, Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square will be reintroduced with many new sustainable features. The biomass in the Square will increase and include new trees, landscaped gardens and a strategy for soil regeneration and stormwater management. The winning design will also rejuvenate existing elements of the Square including the podium roof top of City Hall, the elevated walkways, and other exterior spaces.
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