• The Design Competition
• Project Budget
• Competition Brief
• Heritage
• Existing Square Facilities and Structures
• Implementing the Winning Design
• Public Consultations
• More Information

The Design Competition

	Why is the City of Toronto holding a design competition?
	Revitalizing Nathan Phillips Square is part of the City's effort to beautify and restore its public spaces. Major design attention is needed to areas of the Square, which have been underdeveloped, underutilized and poorly used since the Square was originally designed. Many of the structures and facilities on the Square have fallen into a state of disrepair, some have been closed and some no longer meet the needs of today's users and programs. Examples include: the closed Podium Roof; lack of food services; inadequate pedestrian access at Bay Street and Queen Street West; undignified streetscapes; and underutilized green spaces. Modern-day modifications are required to meet the new functional requirements of the Square and enable the hosting of a greater number and variety of activities and special events.
	Why doesn't the City just fix things on the Square that need repairing and not bother with a competition?
	The City could continue a piece-meal approach to repairing and adding things to the Square, but the result would be the continued decline in the Square's beauty and usefulness. Holding a design competition is the best way to develop a renewed vision and overall revitalization plan for the Square.
	When did Council approve the design competition?
	In December 2005, City Council endorsed the revitalization initiative and a comprehensive framework for the design competition.
	Why is this an international competition, rather than a national or local competition only?
	An international competition will attract the best ideas and most innovative approaches to revitalizing the Square to the benefit of all Torontonians. We hope this competition will be as successful as the international design competition held for our current City Hall and Square in 1957-58, which resulted in the selection of Finnish architect Viljo Revell's bold and internationally-acclaimed design.
	Who is eligible to enter the design competition?
	The competition is structured as a two-stage open process. Stage I is open to all professional architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and engineers who meet either or both of the following requirements: are registered or accredited by a formal registration or accreditation body in one of the above disciplines in the entrant's country of origin; or where registration and accreditation is not available in a particular jurisdiction, the entrant is a member of the relevant professional institute in their country of origin. In Stage I, eligible design professionals are invited to submit a Design and Experience Statement. The Competition Jury will then select a short-list of not more than five submissions to proceed to Stage II. To be eligible for Stage II, all of the short-listed teams must include at least one member as a full member in good standing of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and one member as a full member in good standing of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), prior to the commencement of Stage II.
	How do I apply to enter the design competition?
	Interested design professionals should visit the Competitors' Site at http://www.toronto.ca/npsquarecompetition/index.htm to download a copy of the Competition Brief, which contains full submission information, including mandatory requirements and schedule of activities.
	What is the schedule of activities for the design competition?
	The competition is structured as a two-stage open process. In Stage I, all eligible professionals are invited to submit a Design and Experience Statement which must be received by November 16, 2006. The Competition Jury will select a short-list of not more than five submissions to proceed to Stage II. An announcement of the short-listed design teams is planned for December 5, 2006. In January 2007, Stage II competitors will begin preparing detailed design submissions that must be submitted by February 16, 2007, followed by a presentation and public exhibition of final submissions. Final design submissions will then be evaluated by the Competition Jury meeting in early March 2007 to select the winning design submission and team. The winning finalist and the runners-up will be announced on March 8, 2007.
	Who is on the Competition Jury?
	The six-member Competition Jury is structured to include local and international experts in architecture, landscape architecture and heritage preservation, and members with artistic experience and local community involvement. The members are: Dinu Bumbaru: Internationally recognized heritage architect, currently Policy Director for Heritage Montréal and Secretary General of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). David Crombie: Former Mayor of Toronto and Federal Cabinet Minister, Founding Chair of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and currently President and CEO of The Canadian Urban Institute. Eric Haldenby: Architect and Director of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, a specialist in the design of cultural sites, involved in research in archaeology and architectural history, and currently co-director of a project on innovative research and design of core areas in mid-sized Canadian cities. Frances Halsband: Architect practicing in New York as a partner in the firm of R.M. Kliment & Frances Halsband Architects that has received over fifty design awards, and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at a number of universities in the United States. Cornelia Hahn Oberlander: Distinguished Landscape Architect, based in Vancouver, involved in a wide range of internationally acclaimed projects in Canada and the United States. Michael Ondaatje: Michael Ondaatje is an author whose work encompasses fiction, memoir, poetry and film. He is well known for his novels In The Skin of A Lion, The English Patient and Anil's Ghost. He was born in Sri Lanka and came to Canada in 1962. He lives in Toronto.
	What is the Competition Jury responsible for?
	The Competition Jury is responsible for: reviewing the competition site; reading and reviewing the Competition Brief; evaluating the Stage I and Stage II submissions based upon the criteria stated in the Competition Brief; selecting the Stage II finalists; selecting the winning submission for design of the Square; and preparing a Jury Report providing written comments on each Stage II submission and advising of the Competition Jury's final selection of the winning submission.

Project Budget

What is the proposed budget to implement the revitalization of the Square?

The overall project cost to implement the revitalization of Nathan Phillips Square is estimated at $40 million. In December 2005, when City Council approved the comprehensive framework for the design competition, it also approved multi-year capital funding of $16 million towards implementation of the project. For the remaining $24 million, Council requested the submission of a further staff report on other sources of funding to implement the project, including private/public partnerships or other orders of government. A fundraising feasibility study is currently being undertaken by an outside consultant to explore and assess the potential for external funding sources for this project.

Competition Brief

What is the Competition Brief?

The Competition Brief is the document that identifies the guiding principles for revitalizing the Square, the opportunities presented by the site and its design, a detailed program description, technical requirements, the budget for project implementation, and the requirements for submitting design proposals. The Competition Jury will evaluate the Stage I and Stage II submissions based upon criteria stated in the Competition Brief.

Heritage

	Will any changes made to Nathan Phillips Square as a result of the design competition respect its heritage?
	Yes. The City proudly recognizes the significance of the heritage attributes of the Square. Both City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square are included in the City of Toronto's inventory of heritage properties and are also designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
	What features of City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square are designated heritage attributes?
	Toronto City Hall was designated in 1991 for architectural and historical reasons under the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law No. 147-91). The property covered by the designation by-law extends from the east face of Osgoode Hall to the west side of Bay Street, and from the north side of Queen Street to the south side of Hagerman Street. The reasons for designation of the property are described in the designation by-law as the heritage attributes of the property. As is the case with any designated property, any proposed alterations affecting the heritage attributes will require the approval of City Council, prior to the issuing of a building permit. The heritage attributes described in the designation by-law, which are exterior to the City Hall building and within the open space defined as part of this design competition are the following. " Podium roof and ceremonial ramp leading to it from the Square; " Colonnaded, elevated walkway defining the boundaries of the square proper; " Reflecting pool with three concrete arches and fountains; " Two flat-roofed service buildings west of the reflecting pool; " "The Archer" by sculptor Henry Moore; " The Peace Garden; and " Low level planting along the Queen Street frontage of the property.
	Will changes to the elevated walkways be permitted?
	Competitors may propose modifications to the elevated walkways, but the elevated walkways cannot be torn down. Surrounding the Square on three sides, they are key elements of the original design and are part of the heritage designation of the property. Some changes to the walkways may enhance their public use and appearance; however, they should remain as an integral element of the Square. Any changes must be in keeping with the original design intent so as not to compromise the heritage designation.
	Can the existing Visitors Pavilion (Existing Canteen/Rink Building/Public Washrooms) be changed?
	Yes. Competitors are permitted to propose changes to the pavilion building, or remove it and replace it with a building or buildings of different configuration, although competitors should have regard for the scale and simplicity of the original building design. Competitors are required to provide facilities for various purposes such as a tourist/visitors information centre, public washrooms and skate rental/change areas, which must be accommodated in such building or buildings.
	Was the Peace Garden part of the original design of the Square? What is its significance?
	The Peace Garden was added in 1984 as a sesquicentennial project and was designed to honour the commitment of Torontonians to the principle of world peace. It is part of the heritage designation of the property.
	Can the Peace Garden be relocated elsewhere on the Square?
	Competitors are permitted to propose changes to the location and design of the Peace Garden; however, a Peace Garden must be a significant component of the overall design of the Square. Any changes to the location of the Peace Garden must place it in an appropriate location relative to the overall Square design, provide an equivalent or better landscape design and relocate the key built components including the pavilion, pool, eternal flame and sundial.

Existing Square Facilities and Structures

	What did it cost to build the City Hall complex in 1965?
	The final cost of constructing City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square was approximately $27 million in 1965.
	How many events are held on Nathan Phillips Square in a year?
	More than 175 events are held on Nathan Phillips Square each year, attracting over 1.5 million people. These include charity walk kick-off events, farmers' markets, festivals, art exhibitions, cultural events and concerts.
	Why are there not any restaurants or pubs on the podium level?
	Architect Viljo Revell's original design did not include these types of uses and there is no infrastructure in place to support them.
	Was "The Archer" part of the original design scheme for the Square?
	Yes, Revell met with British sculptor Henry Moore to select Moore's sculpture for the Square. It was installed in a place of honour in front of City Hall in 1966.
	What is the significance of the Sundial?
	The Sundial was presented in 1969 to the citizens of Toronto in appreciation of Mayor Nathan Phillips and selected by him as a gift that he gave back to the City.
	What is the significance of the Winston Churchill Statue?
	The statue of Sir Winston Churchill, the work of Oscar Nemon, is a tribute to the former Prime Minister of Great Britain. It was installed in 1977 in the southwest corner of the Square.
	What is the significance of the Roman column?
	In 1967, the Roman column was installed on the Square. It had been presented by Rome's Mayor Umberto Tupini to Mayor Nathan Phillips in 1957 to honour Toronto's Italian heritage.
	What is the significance of Speakers' Corner?
	Speaker's Corner was installed near the Winston Churchill statue in 1988 to promote free speech in Toronto.

Implementing the Winning Design

	If City Council approves the winning design, when would construction and other work on the Square begin?
	Assuming Council approval of the winning design by mid-2007 and full funding for project implementation is secured, the winning design team could proceed with more detailed design work during 2007. It is possible that construction could start in 2008.

Public Consultations

	Was the public consulted about the competition for revitalizing Nathan Phillips Square?
	The City consulted with neighbouring businesses, the general public, community groups, the design community and business and other groups identified as having an interest in Nathan Phillips Square. The extensive public consultation process, which took place between March and June 2005, was designed to identify, develop and fine-tune the public's views and creative ideas about the Square. It involved the following: individual external stakeholder interviews; four external stakeholder focus group sessions; two public information workshops; an all-day community creative workshop; and a public town hall session. A report "Community Voices - Perspectives on Nathan Phillips Square's Renewal", September 2005, by Lura Consulting, provides a full account of the public consultations and is available on the Competitors' Site.
	How has the input from the public consultations been used?
	The public consultation process has helped to inform and define the needs for the Square as reflected in the competition brief.
	Will the public have an opportunity to comment on the design submissions?
	Yes. A public exhibition and presentation of the Stage II final design submissions will take place in February, 2007. The public's comments on these submissions will be summarized and forwarded to the Competition Jury to assist them in their deliberations in selecting the winning design in early March, 2007.

More Information

	How can I get more information about the competition?
	More information about the competition is available on the City's website . General public inquiries can be made by e-mail to npscomp@toronto.ca.