The Bayside development site, located south of Queens Quay between Sherbourne Common in the west and the Parliament Slip in the east, is the largest parcel of land developed to date by Waterfront Toronto. Led by Hines, one of the world’s premier real estate firms, Bayside will transform an underutilized, industrial area into an active and diverse mixed-use community and thriving waterfront destination.

Hines’ plans for Bayside will deliver a vibrant, sustainable new neighbourhood built on a human scale, with mews and small streets that promote a sense of closeness and community all year round. The neighbourhood’s main street — Bonnycastle Street — will draw visitors from across the city and will provide connections to neighbouring public spaces, including Sherbourne Common, Queens Quay linear park, the Water’s Edge Promenade and future Parliament WaveDeck.

Known for its design focus and longstanding commitment to sustainability, Waterfront Toronto selected Hines as the developer of the

Bayside site. As the world's largest privately held real estate firm, Hines has the breadth of experience, network of expertise and financial strength required to ensure the timely development of this large and complex waterfront site.

Hines assembled an internationally renowned design team led by luminary architect Cesar Pelli and Fred Clarke, who are responsible for such iconic buildings as the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Manhattan’s World Financial Center, and Stanton Eckstut, the visionary behind New York’s celebrated Battery Park City waterfront development. Rounding out the Bayside design team is award-winning Toronto-based Adamson Architects who has worked on important waterfront projects such as London’s Canary Wharf.

The design team has created an overall master plan for Bayside that is in keeping with the approved precinct plan for East Bayfront. Architecture for each building and detailed designs that are in line with the master plan, will be completed as the project moves forward.

To select a private sector development partner for Bayside, Waterfront Toronto followed the same detailed two stage Request for Qualifications (RFQ)/Request for Proposals (RFP) process used to select Urban Capital for the River City project in the West Don Lands and Great Gulf Group of Companies for the Parkside development site in East Bayfront.

The RFQ was launched in March 2008 and promoted broadly to draw the highest calibre private sector developers from around the world. RFP submissions from the four shortlisted candidates were received in November 2009.

Submissions were reviewed based on a set of criteria stemming from Waterfront Toronto’s long term policy objectives and overall vision for East Bayfront. The criteria included both financial and city building measures such as vision, design and development concept and sustainability plan.

Learn more about the selection process.

Sustainable development is not new to Hines. With a 53 year track record for energy efficiency and innovation, sustainable development is an integral part of the Hines model. In line with the firm’s longstanding commitment to sustainability, Hines has been a leader in the growth of the LEED program since its inception and in other sustainability initiatives such as the ENERGY STAR® program.

In addition to meeting or exceeding Waterfront Toronto’s Mandatory Green Building Requirements, Hines is planning a number of strategic green programs for Bayside, including the implementation of the Hines GREEN OFFICE Tenant Program, which enhances the sustainable features and operations of employer spaces in commercial buildings. The firm has also proposed the creation of an ENERGY STAR® pilot program for commercial construction, which would see Hines partner with Natural Resources Canada to expand the Canadian Building Standard for single-family residential construction into commercial development.

Currently the only high-rise office building in Canada to achieve LEED Platinum is Hines' Eight Avenue Place.  Hines will bring this kind of environmental leadership to Bayside.