Revitalizing Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square is Toronto’s premier public space and civic gathering place, a leading tourist attraction for the City, and a national and provincial landmark. In 1991, the Square, along with Toronto City Hall, were designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Revitalizing Nathan Phillips Square is a priority for the City in its efforts to beautify and restore its public spaces and make Toronto a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful city.
While the Square has many successful attributes, the City has long recognized that some of the features on the Square have been underdeveloped, underutilized 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 modifications are required to meet the new functional requirements of the Square and allow a greater variety of activities and special events. The Square is one of the City’s major venues for such functions – it attracts over 1.5 million people a year.
The City launched a successful international design competition in 2006 to revitalize the Square. The winning design by the team led by Plant Architect Inc. and Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners in Joint Venture is based on the idea that the Square has always acted as an agora, the ancient Athenian place of public and political exchange. The theme clearly defines the inner open space of theatre and square – a theatre for the city, where planned and unforeseen events are encouraged, and a square surrounded by a forested perimeter.
The winning design imaginatively re-invents elements of the Square, enhances the experience of the public realm, and integrates exemplary new sustainable design approaches. It respects and restores the beauty and dignity of architect Viljo Revell’s original vision, while preserving and enhancing the Square’s unique heritage qualities.
The revitalized Square will include:
- versatile new Theatre Stage with an elegant roof canopy, wide stairs leading to the elevated walkway and performance support space below grade;
- a new Skate Pavilion and Concession at the southwest corner of the Square, with skate rental and changeroom space, rink support facilities, a food concession, public washrooms and a generous roof terrace overlooking the Square;
- a two-level restaurant in the southwest portion of the Square facing Queen Street West, with outdoor seasonal patio and terrace dining and access to the adjacent overhead walkway and public roof terrace;
- a redesigned landscape along the edges of the Square and the west side, with an increased number and variety of trees, mixed tree species and innovative and improved soil planting;
- a wide variety of sustainable design achievements linked to Toronto’s Green Development Standard such as: a soil regeneration strategy; improved tree planting conditions and increased biomass and number of trees; improved pedestrian environment; controlling light pollution; energy efficient design; renewable energy features, opportunities for public education; attention to the on-site microclimate; and sourcing of local materials;
- a larger and enhanced Peace Garden at a new location in the western landscaped area of the Square;
- creation of a new green roof on the City Hall podium roof, with extensive landscaped gardens, a courtyard framing the Council Chamber, a podium terrace and new walkways;
- new planting and landscape surfaces for the Queen Street forecourt to encourage the flow of pedestrians into the Square;
- improved overhead walkway connections to the second levels of the new restaurant and skate pavilion; and
- a seasonal “disappearing” water fountain feature in the centre of the Square, which will consist of nine fountain jets providing cooling and adding a playful element to the Square, while allowing the full range of activities to take place on the Square uninterrupted.