Harbourfront Centre offers cultural, educational and recreational activities from its four hectare (10 acre site) in the heart of Toronto’s central waterfront. In 2000, Harbourfront Centre developed a master plan for the revitalization of its site which encompasses York and John Quays. The master plan was designed to reclaim underutilized spaces and strengthen public access to the water’s edge. It also included a vision for Canada Square, an urban plaza at the water’s edge.

This project, now known as the York Quay Revitalization Project, has since evolved to include elements from the winning submission of the Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition. In its submission, West 8 + DTAH envisioned a vibrant, mixed-use cultural/retail village for the site which would include a lake-facing square called Canada Square and another urban square bordering Queens Quay.

The planning, design and construction of the York Quay Revitalization Project has been divided into three key phases. The first phase, completed in 2006, improved public access to the lake by completely restructuring the water’s edge around York and John Quays. It also featured extensive landscaping improvements, the widening of the promenade and the addition of a five-metre wide wooden boardwalk and two 60-metre finger piers. Read more.

Phase two is now underway. Designed by renowned landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates, Waterfront Toronto and Harbourfront Centre plan to replace the 212-spot surface parking lot — a 1.4 hectare area in the heart of the Harbourfront Centre site — with an underground parking garage (with approximately 300 parking spaces). Phase two work includes the design and construction of the underground parking garage. It also includes the construction of Canada Square, re-zoning to allow for the future cultural/retail village and site finishes for the remainder of the primary site.

Phase two of the York Quay Revitalization Project was introduced to the public during an interactive public forum in early 2010. Review the presentation and the report from the meeting.

Phase three will build upon the planning and design undertaken in phase two resulting in the development of a mixed-use cultural village including neighbourhood-scaled retail and commercial space as well the completion of the urban square bordering Queens Quay. A private sector development partner will be required to complete this phase.

Overall Boundaries: Between York and John Quays (York Street to the east to Rees Street to the west)

Size: Four hectare (10 acre) site

Uses: In addition to Harbourfront Centre’s cultural, educational and recreational facilities, the site also includes a hotel, restaurants, condominium dwellings, offices and a retail mall

Design Team:

2000 Harbourfront Centre Master Plan: Greenberg Consultants Inc.

2005/2006 Phase I (Water’s Edge Revitalization): Architects Alliance, Greenberg Consultants Inc. and Envision - The Hough Group who developed the concept design for the project.

2006 Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition: West 8 + DTAH

Phase II (Parking Garage, Canada Square, Overall Site Planning): Michael Van Valkenberg and Associates