New Etobicoke Civic Centre Project

The new Etobicoke Civic Centre (ECC) at 3755 Bloor Street West will be located within the newly redeveloped Etobicoke Civic Centre Precinct (formerly the Westwood Theatre Lands). The new ECC provides a microclimate that encourages people to engage in the public realm. Through its architectural expression and inviting street presence, the ECC will stand out as an innovative and unique building in Toronto.

As the first civic centre to be built in the last 50 years, the ECC is designed as a mixed-use building comprising of office spaces, including municipal offices and a multi-purpose council chamber, a child care centre, library, public health clinic, recreation centre, retail spaces and a civic square located steps away from a new affordable housing community.

The new ECC is located within the City’s Bloor-Kipling (Six Points) Block Plan, which was proposed as part of the reconfiguration of the former Six Points Interchange, also known as the ‘Spaghetti Junction’. In 2021, Six Points was replaced by a new network of streets, unlocking almost 18 acres of land and creating seven blocks for redevelopment. Besides the new civic centre, the area includes five blocks earmarked for rental housing developments. Approximately 10,340 square metres of parkland is also being created or planned in the area.    

The ECC is a mixed-use building comprising a wide range of community focused program and services. The building is arranged in a series of tall volumes towards the north, housing the municipal offices, while the lower floors towards the south contain all the public functions. It will also be compliant to the Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines (TADG) as a means to extend greater accessibility for all users.

With 508,000 square feet of accessible public-facing space, the new civic centre is the first of its kind to be built in the last 50 years and is designed as a state-of-the-art mixed-used civic hub that includes:

Civic Square

  • Approximately 47,000 sq. ft.
  • An event plaza, a filter garden, large erratic (boulders) landscape elements, a water feature, a sacred fire vessel, bike share, entrances to the parking lobbies and a café terrace (vendor not yet secured)

Podium Level

  • Approximately 300,000 sq. ft.
  • A community centre inclusive of both lane and leisure pools, multi-purpose rooms, fitness studios, gymnasium and walking track
  • A Toronto Public Library branch including a Digital Innovation Hub; Youth Hub; KidsStop; program space; inviting space for co-working, studying, relaxing and connecting with community; and curated collections for the community
  • Community Services including:
    • Art gallery
    • Children Services (Child Care Centre)
    • Civic Counter Strategy
    • Toronto Employment & Social Services
    • Toronto Public Health Clinic inclusive of a Dental Clinic and a Breastfeeding Clinic.
    • Ceremonial Room(s) (to accommodate multi-faith ceremonies)
    • Public Meeting Rooms
  • Constituency Offices & Council Chambers
  • Bicycle parking and back-of-house building services
  • Retail store (planned to accommodate a café – vendor not yet secured)

Office Towers

  • Approximately 210,000 sq. ft.
  • Multiple City divisions, agencies and corporations within the office towers and two amenity floors featuring a variety of meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, social spaces, multi-faith room, parent room, lunchroom and outdoor terrace

    Below Ground Level

    • Approximately 264,000 sq. ft.
    • Storage & building services
    • 2 parking levels (Fleet Services and public)
    • Enwave Energy Corporation – District Energy Plant
    • Shared vehicular access and loading area between ECC and the neighbouring Housing Now initiative

    In support of the City’s TransformTO’s climate action plan to reduce emission from buildings and achieve a high level of resiliency, the new ECC is targeting Toronto Green Standards (TGS) Version 3 Tier 4. This site will also feature a below-grade district energy plant that will provide energy to the new civic centre and surrounding development blocks – making this Toronto’s first near zero emissions community.

    Etobicoke Centre is one of four city centres identified in the City’s Official Plan to accommodate projected growth. Overall, the new civic centre and surrounding developments will support the evolution of Etobicoke Centre as a vibrant mixed-use transit-oriented community, where the city’s rapid transit network, jobs, housing and services are concentrated.

    Photos via Adamson Associates Architects, Henning Larsen and PMA Landscape Architects.