WaveDecks
Waterfront Toronto is transforming Toronto’s central waterfront by creating a bold new look and unified design for the 3.5 km area running from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street. Soon Torontonians will be able to walk from one end of the central waterfront to the other on a continuous water’s edge promenade; enjoy spectacular new open spaces that feature breathtaking views of the lake and city skyline; and bicycle or jog along a new section of the popular Martin Goodman Trail.
A key feature of Waterfront Toronto’s central waterfront design is a series of wooden wavedecks that resemble the contours of the Lake Ontario shoreline and provide generous public gathering spaces at main waterfront streets. These unique spaces will also act as gateways to the waterfront. The transformation of the central waterfront will include four wavedecks located at Spadina Avenue, and Rees, Simcoe and Parliament streets. The wavedecks provide visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the lake in areas that previously lacked public access. The Spadina WaveDeck opened in late-summer of 2008 followed by Simcoe WaveDeck in June 2009 and Rees WaveDeck in July 2009.
Spadina WaveDeck
Located at the foot of Spadina Avenue, the 630 square-metre wooden wavedeck offers Torontonians a new waterside gathering place in an area that was formerly a narrow sidewalk and lacked public access to the lake. Built in less than 10 months, the Spadina WaveDeck creates more public space along one of the most heavily used parts of the Toronto shoreline. This project will also help to stitch together the Music Garden and HTO Park, two already revitalized public spaces on Toronto’s Waterfront.
In addition to the installation of the wooden wavedeck, construction activities also included dockwall repairs, in-water fisheries habitat construction and landscape improvements.
NEWS RELEASE: Start of Construction - November 30, 2007 (pdf)
NEWS RELEASE: Waterfront Toronto Opens Spadina WaveDeck (pdf)
Spadina WaveDeck Key Facts (pdf)
Aquatic Habitat Fact Sheet (pdf)
Simcoe WaveDeck
The Simcoe WaveDeck, one of four uniquely Canadian wavedecks planned for the area, is as artistic as it is functional. Located just west of Simcoe Street at the water’s edge, the wooden wavedeck features an informal public amphitheatre-style space with impressive curves that soar as high as 2.6 metres above the lake.
Built in less than eight months and inspired by the Canadian cottage experience and the shorelines of Ontario’s great lakes, the wavedeck is meant to give urban dwellers a feel for life at the lake. Providing access to Lake Ontario is a key priority for Waterfront Toronto and is an important public goal supported by all of our government partners.
Construction activities included installation of fencing to secure the sites, pile driving, dockwall repairs, in-water fisheries habitat construction, deck installation and landscape improvements. The Simcoe WaveDeck opened for public enjoyment in June 2009.
News Release - Simcoe WaveDeck Opening (pdf)
Simcoe WaveDeck Key Facts (pdf)
Aquatic Habitat Fact Sheet (pdf)
Rees WaveDeck
Following in the footsteps of the Spadina and Simcoe WaveDecks, the Rees WaveDeck is the third in a series of four urban docks designed to create more public space along one of the most heavily used parts of the Toronto shoreline. Located just west of Rees Street on the south side of Queens Quay West, this 480 square-metre wavedeck is uniquely Canadian and a fantastic new addition to Toronto’s waterfront.
Built in less than 10 months, the Rees WaveDeck is an urban dock that is both a piece of art and a functional gathering space. It is a completely flexible structural space. The stairs act as an informal amphitheatre and the varying heights of the deck allow for different vantage points and ultimately different experiences with the lake.
The form allows people to interpret the space in many different ways: the amphitheatre-like steps can be used as a passive sitting place, or as an active learning space for summer camps or the nearby sailing school. A portion of the toe rail at the centre of the deck is removable to accommodate boarding of small boats from the wavedeck.
The two 15 metre backless benches act as an elegant barrier to the water while also providing seating for users of the space. Construction began in October 2008 and was completed in less than 10 months, ahead of schedule and under budget.
Central Waterfront Backgrounder (pdf)