DS+R / HOOD DESIGN / architectsAlliance
CIVIC CANOPY THE JACK LAYTON FERRY TERMINAL AND HARBOUR SQUARE PARK
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CONTENT I. VISION
V. PHASE I: IMPLEMENTATION
CIVIC CANOPY / HARBOURED LANDSCAPE
II. SITE STRATEGY HARBOUR + SQUARE + PARK GATEWAY/EDGE COMMON GROUND TERMINAL OUTLOOK
III. JACK LAYTON FERRY TERMINAL DNA NO WAIT! AUGMENTED WEATHER ON-DEMAND PROGRAM BOARDWALK OVERLOOK STRUCTURE LIGHTING
VI. LOGISTICS SITE CIRCULATION FERRY OPERATIONS ARTWORK RELOCATION SITE IMPACTS SUSTAINABILITY UNIVERSAL ACCESS
VII. MODEL PHOTOS VIII. TEAM
IV. HARBOUR SQUARE PARK GEOLOGY HYDROLOGY FLORA + FAUNA PATHS INTEGRATION PLAY!
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I. VISION
Civic Canopy/Harboured Landscape As water has evolved from the city’s industrial workhorse to its aquatic playground and shorelines have changed from mercantile to natural landscapes, cities must invent new civic typologies to fully seize the opportunities at hand. The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal has the potential to be one of Toronto’s most important waterfront civic spaces. What would it be like if constructed, green and aquatic landscapes could merge to form new, hybrid spaces of utility and play, creating a new kind of civic icon -- an icon based as much on experience as form, as much on engineered green as man-made material? The new Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Harbour Square Park can become just that -- a ‘soft icon’, reflecting the Toronto of the 21st Century. Civic Canopy acknowledges the growing diversity of Toronto’s population, engages in the reactivated waterfront with year round, dynamic, ever-changing programming, and provides an innovative structure befitting its position as a centerpiece of urban life. Civic Canopy embodies Jack Layton’s personal and political principles of inclusion, accessibility, equality and enlightened populism. The renewed Harbour Square Park forms a synergistic bond with Civic Canopy, flowing freely under and through the canopy while becoming a unique destination along the city’s waterfront. Civic Canopy is an open, expansive timber roof that overlays and links greenscape, hardscape, and waterscape, covering the vehicle drop-off, ferry boarding area, park zones and water inlets. Like the tree canopy it intersects, City Canopy offers shade in the summer months and direct sunlight in the winter months. The new roof acknowledges the diurnal shifts in weather and populations, transforming over the year with a series of modifications both spectacular and invisible. Wild swings in temperature are seasonally adjusted with altered climates achieved through latent and active environmental modifications. New programming breathes life into the terminal and park in off seasons. Waiting is transformed from a passive nuisance to active pleasure. Rather than constantly checking the time, visitors meander freely in the park or warm themselves in the Grow House and are summoned to their ferry by a Geyser Clock, spectacularly erupting in advance of each departure. Civic Canopy warps, bends and breaks to accommodate natural and programmatic features. Trees emerge through its openings, enclosed and conditioned areas are formed through puckers in its surface. The resulting undulating form is both liquid and solid, transparent and opaque, reflecting a merger of water and land. Harbour Square Park samples the native landscapes of the Islands and brings them to downtown Toronto. Naturalistic waterfronts and flora form an enmeshed landscape which is simultaneously constructed and ecological - urban and wild. 4
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II. SITE STRATEGY
A Hybrid Landscape: Harbour + Square + Park
CIRCULATION STRANDS FROM THE CITY AND FROM THE HARBOUR
The site of the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is characterized by a wideranging mix of user groups – ferry riders, local residents, park users, tourists, kayakers – and myriad formal and informal programs, from ferry embarkation to picnics. To accommodate this broad variety of diverse uses within a single landscape that is coherent at the civic scale, suggests a hybridized site strategy. The site must be approached as a fusion of landscape typologies: Harbour and Square and Park. The city itself emerges from the ‘Harbour’, a protected and sheltered place alongside the Lake Ontario shoreline. Within this context, the water is calmer, the edge is less constructed, and the ecology more diverse. The Harbour offers a transition from the Great Lake; a shift in scale and microclimate. It is possible to relinquish control of the built edge of the city within the Harbour, expanding the existing ‘Park’ outward to cultivate wetlands, beaches, leisure and play areas adjacent to the Harbour.
CIRCULATION IS DEFLECTED BY PROGRAMMED PARK SPACES
This landscape is sampled from the Toronto Islands on the south of the side of the Harbour, where the edge and connection to the water typify Torontonians’ aquatic experience. Samples of wetlands, beaches and play spaces bring referential legibility and a flexibility of use throughout the seasons to the new Harbour Square Park landscape. Harbour Square Park samples the native landscapes of the Islands and brings them to downtown Toronto. Naturalistic waterfronts and flora form an enmeshed landscape which is simultaneously urban and wild. In this way the site acts as both a harbour for different landscape conditions and a harbouring landscape for multiple uses.
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FABRICATED LANDSCAPE MEDIATED BY CIRCULATION AND PROGRAMMED SPACES
Harbour Harbour Flora/Fauna: Sampling from the Island
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Breathing Room
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The current Ferry Terminal site no longer supports demand. Its pinched relationship to the Westin Harbour Hotel is the biggest impediment to relieving the congestion and long lines that characterize the experience of embarking to the Toronto Islands today. By moving the terminal south and aligning it with the new boardwalk edge, this structure gains the breathing room it needs to match its density of visitors. By shifting the terminal west to align with Bay Street, the Terminal gains the visibility and integrated relationship with the city befitting its importance to the city of Toronto. Civic Canopy’s new site will allow the terminal to be a thriving and well planned transportation node and civic space for generations to come.
CURRENT TERMINAL 9
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NEW TERMINAL
Gateway/Edge The master plan to connect the pier heads of the Waterfront, linking them together with a grand boardwalk and tree lined promenade, is an inspiring vision that must be extended through the Terminal site. Rather than jogging this public path around the Terminal, we propose to lift the boardwalk off the ground so that ferry passengers may pass beneath it while the public maintains uninterrupted waterfront access. In addition to defining the public edge from which to view the Islands, here, the boardwalk becomes the Island’s gateway.
Common Ground In order for the new Terminal to be truly civic, it must serve everyone and provide access to all. Pedestrians, bikes, cars, taxis, buses, wheelchairs and strollers, all require direct access. Wheeled vehicles and pedestrians will all share a curb-free, paved environment blurring the boundaries between road, sidewalk and plaza. A significantly widened sidewalk approach from the north and a seamless connection to the waterfront promenade will provide ample space for large summer crowds. By removing the existing suppressed condo access road and extending Bay Street into the site, buses, taxis and other vehicles will be able to drop-off and pick-up visitors in an orderly and efficient manner. Bicycle infrastructure continues to improve in Toronto. So too must bike access to the Toronto Islands, one of the great biking areas of the city. The new Queens Quay bike lane will extend into Harbour Square Park and under the Civic Canopy. Bike parking and a Bike Share Toronto station will find a prominent and shaded place within a grove of trees.
Terminal Outlook
Once outliers, standing apart from the city at the water’s edge, the Westin Harbour Hotel and Harbour Square condominium complex are on now the verge of being absorbed into Toronto’s urban fabric. Yet these buildings and their landscape features continue to form a physical and conceptual barricade to the water. To reconnect this part of the city to the water, the current hill, hole and bridge at the foot of Bay Street are removed and replaced by a spacious at grade entry experience with a continuous uninterrupted view to the new Ferry Terminal and lake beyond.
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TERMINAL
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1. CIVIC CANOPY 2. FERRY DOCK 3. VEHICLE ACCESS 4. BIKE ACCESS 5. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS 6. BIKE PARKING & BIKE SHARE TORONTO STATION
7. CLIMBING/ROCK SLIDE 8. POND/ICE RINK 9. CHILDRENS GARDEN 10. BEACH 11. FLOATING WETLAND 12. BOARDWALK 13. OPERATIONS BUILDING
14. SOFT EDGE/WETLAND 15. FLOATING DOCK WITH SEA WALL 16. LILY PAD WETLAND
9 SITE PLAN N.T.S.
III. JACK LAYTON FERRY TERMINAL
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DNA Civic Canopy samples the DNA of its waterfront site. It transplants the wood of the waterfront boardwalk into the sky and extends the tree canopy of the waterfront promenade, intersecting the two in an exuberant collage. Its undulating shell structure reflects the water at its edge and builds upon the playfulness of the West 8-designed Wave Decks and proposed timber bridges.
NO WAIT! The experience of waiting to cross the water to the Toronto Islands should be one of anticipation and delight, befitting the verdant mystique of the Islands themselves. Instead, for Torontonians and tourists alike, a more often heard association is of a cattle pen. While Civic Canopy’s new location will give relief, strategic changes to the ticketing protocol could remove the need for waiting entirely, creating the possibility for new experiences and activities at the water’s edge before embarking to the Islands.
CURRENT WAITING AREA
To disperse lines for tickets, distributed automated ticketing kiosks are located at the base of each column of the canopy. In addition, advance tickets will be sold digitally on mobile devices, augmenting the traditional ticket counter. Rather than having to wait in a holding area to guarantee a place on the next ferry, the simple introduction of timed ticketing will liberate the public to relax and explore. Instead of a waiting area, Civic Canopy and the new Harbour Square Park will be destinations themselves, with contemplative and exuberant spaces to pause, linger, wander and play. Like clockwork, a geyser within Civic Canopy will erupt prior to each ferry departure -- a spectacular boarding call to ensure no one misses the boat!
PROPOSED WAITING AREA
In the winter when ridership is significantly reduced, a compact and climate controlled Grow House will provide a surreal moment of summer within the winter. A wave of heat and blooming flora will provide a momentary respite before embarking across the icy cold water. While Civic Canopy anticipates these changes in ticketing protocol, the master plan accommodates the current ticketing and security protocols as well. If required, a holding area at the south edge of the public space would allow for the segregation of ticketed passengers. A full height gate is aligned with the underside of the boardwalk overpass such that passengers are held back from the dock area as they are today.
TIMED TICKETING
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FERRY TERMINAL PLAN 1. VEHICLE DROP OFF 2. PLAZA 3. TICKETING INTERFACE 4. SECURE FERRY GATE 5. TICKETS & INFO BOOTH 6. YEAR ROUND CONDITIONED WAITING 7. AIR CAFE 8. MIST ROOM/ICE CAVE 9. FARMERS MARKET 10. CLIMBING/ROCK SLIDE 11. CLIMBING CUBES 14
12. OPERATIONS OFFICE 13. MAINTENANCE SHOP 14. JACK LAYTON MEMORIAL SHARE TORONTO STATION 15. CHILDRENS MURAL 16. BUS STOP 17. BIKE PARKING & BIKE SHARE TORONTO STATION 18. BOARDWALK 19. CAR LOADING 20. SOFT EDGE WETLAND 21. WETLAND WALKWAY
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SECTION E/W
SECTION N/S
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AUGMENTED WEATHER OUTDOOR AIR TEMPERATURE [°F] >85°F
An unexpectedly high degree of thermal comfort at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal will support healthy environments for people, native vegetation, and local businesses while encouraging visitors to stay and play year-round through seasonal transformations.
75°F Solar Shading Bene cial to Outdoor Comfort
A combination of ‘smart’ and ‘dumb’ technologies are employed to create seasonally adjusted micro-climates, regulating temperature, eliminating wind, and harvesting daylight. The natural tree plantings and engineered wood canopy together with the Winter Garden, Air Cafe, and Mist Room / Ice Cave will temper extreme wind and solar exposure during the winter and summer respectively and present adaptive opportunities for occupants to move around based on their thermal comfort needs and changing weather conditions.
In the summer, the temperature of the air and ground surface is moderated through a series of interventions: • • • •
Solar Control: The combination of deciduous tree plantings and built canopy provides shade for visitors and prevents the ground paving surfaces from heating up. Evaporative Cooling: Airflow through the site, water misting, and evapotranspiration from plants helps to cool the air beneath the canopy. Thermal Mass and Nighttime Cooling. Site pavement and concrete furniture have high thermal capacity to absorb daytime heat and reject it to cool night air. Natural Energy Systems: low-energy conditioning systems coupled with ground or lake heat exchange enhance summer comfort within the amenity spaces.
In the winter, the site is strategically enhanced to moderate cold weather:
50°F
Direct Sunlight Bene cial
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32°F
FRACTION OF TIME SPENT IN VARIOUS TEMPERATURE BANDS: THE AVERAGE FRACTION OF TIME SPENT IN VARIOUS TEMPERATURE BANDS: FRIGID (BELOW 15°F), FREEZING (15°F TO 32°F), COLD (32°F TO 50°F), COOL (50°F TO 65°F), COMFORTABLE (65°F TO 75°F), WARM (75°F TO 85°F), HOT (85°F TO 100°F) AND SWELTERING (ABOVE 100°F)
An overhang of 5-6 meters on the south provides protection from the sun during the summer while allowing direct solar gains to the waiting area when it is beneficial bene cial for thermal comfort. Direct sunlight under the canopy can be increased during the winter by tilting each canopy module 5-10° 10° Tilt
June 21st, Noon [69°] May 1st, Noon [61°] September 1st, Noon [55°]
March 21st, Noon [46°] 10.00 8.00
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5° Tilt
10.00
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10.00 8.00
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10.00 8.00
February 21st, Noon [35°]
5-6m
December 21st, Noon [23°]
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LEVEL 1 EL. 5
8M 5.00
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Maximize Sunlight: Optimally configured canopy louvers and overhangs, with amenity spaces along the southern edge, allow high winter sun exposure. Solar Collectors: The ferry waiting area, cafe, and solarium perform as solar collectors, trapping and storing available solar heat during the winter. Wind Protection: Landscape berms and architectural buffers (as well as ice walls) serve to shelter the plaza beneath the canopy from prevailing winds. Thermally Active Furniture: demand controlled radiant furniture and surfaces provide localized comfort in the amenity spaces during extreme cold or special events.
Direct Sunlight Bene cial
Below 65°F Direct sunlight beneficial bene cial to outdoor thermal comfort. Try to avoid shading plaza and waiting area between September 1st and May 1st.
<15°F
ROOF EL. 10
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65°F
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Four locations under the canopy create mini “super-seasons” and “anti-seasons”:
Above 65°F Shading beneficial bene cial to outdoor thermal comfort. [May 1st- September 1st]
GROUND EL. 0
19°
23M
The current spacing of the Ferry away from the waiting area will not provide signifi signi cant cant overshadowing during the winter.
Angle of louvered canopy optimized to shade plaza from summer sun.
STEREOGRAPHIC SUNPATH DIAGRAM SHOWING AVERAGE HOURLY TEMPERATURE RELATIVE TO TIME OF YEAR AND SUN POSITION. (JUNE 21ST TO DECEMBER 21ST)
Pre-assembled canopy modules are hoisted into position after column installation. Modules interlock w/ overlapping splices at sides and at columns.
Angle of louvered canopy optimized to allow winter sun into plaza.
10° 20°
June 21st
30°
July 21st
40° August 21st
50° 60°
September 1
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Curved shape of canopy creates structural skin w/ no additional bracing above. Openings in canopy align w/ tree locations and provide light, water, and space for vertical growth. Integrated misting/ice-making system above drained splash pad. Integrated digital ticketing system at column bases.
80° September 21
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Seasonal interior space created w/ inflatable structures at air cafe.
October 21
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November 21
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Time of Day
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Year-round indoor waiting and planting within enclosed grow-house.
Ice cave provides thermal protection in winter months and cools surrounding area as it melts in spring/summer.
December 21st
Maple trees tie the planting of the terminal into the waterfront master plan.
STEREOGRAPHIC SUNPATH DIAGRAM SHOWING AVERAGE HOURLY TEMPERATURE RELATIVE TO TIME OF YEAR AND SUN POSITION. (DECEMBER 21ST TO JUNE 21ST)
Turnstyles provide controlled access into secure ticketed area beyond without creating visual barriers to harbour/ferries.
10°
Slips accommodate five full-size ferry boats.
20°
June 21st
30°
Direct sunlight beneficial to outdoor thermal comfort between December 21st and May 1st.
Double-sided boardwalk overlook Hot Seats w/ views across harbour and into plaza below. During cold weather, the insulated seating is heated, providing a zone of thermal comfort beneath the canopy overhang.
May 21st
40°
May 1st
50°
April 21st
Raised boardwalk allows passage of both passengers and & vehicles to/from ferries. Restored wetland edge. “Shore stories” mural relocated to plaza face of maintenance and operations building. Public restroom block integrated into the grow house enclosure.
60° 70°
Programmable air-pressure geyser “erupts” to signal the departure of ferries.
80° March 21
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“Jack’s got your back” memorial relocated to be visible between terminal and bicycle stations. Information ticker along terminal side of raised boardwalk. Ticket booth.
February 21
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January 21st
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Time of Day
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Flexible open ground plan allows for year-round on-demand programming. Shared roadway brings car dropoff, taxi & bus service, and bicycle access close to the terminal.
December 21st Strong points at canopy structure allow for flexible hanging seating. Air cafe w/ flexible seating in the summer months and enclosed sitting area in the winter. The hill allows for variable and unstructured outdoor play.
Under-plaza radiant heating coils circulate heated lake water to keep snow and ice off circulation and event areas and provide localize heat during winter.
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AIR CAFE This seasonal inflatable cafe and bar creates a cozy new winter destination, complete with fire pits and soft lounges .
Summer
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Winter
ICE CAVE / MIST ROOM A shallow pool and play area naturally cooled by misters during hot summer months, a sunny wind free ice cave during the winter.
Summer
Winter
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GROW HOUSE The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grow Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; winter garden is a warmed waiting area where blooming plants grow during the winter, to be distributed around the park during the summer.
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ON DEMAND PROGRAM While Civic Canopy is scaled to comfortably accommodate the largest summer crowds, it is also a flexible civic infrastructure that will be a year round asset for unfolding events, activities and public amenities. When the ferries are not at their peak use, winter markets, festivals, outdoor exhibitions and special events can all find a home under this new civic amenity.
FOOD TRUCKS
SUMMER MARKET AIR CAFE
Summer Thermal Comfort (Daytime ) DISCOMFORT LIKELY due to high exposure to sun.
IMPROVED COMFORT- Sun shading provided by the canopy and tree plantings OPTIMAL COMFORT - Shading, air movement, and evaporative cooling using lake water misting and evapotranspiration.
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GROW HOUSE
MIST ROOM
WINTER
Winter Thermal Comfort (Daytime ) ENHANCED COMFORT - Localized Heating
ICE CAVE
AIR CAFE
OPTIMAL OUTDOOR COMFORTPassive Solar Heat IMPROVED COMFORT - Filtered Sunlight and Protection from the Wind
DISCOMFORT LIKELY with long exposure due to limited direct sunlight and/or high winds.
WINTER MARKET PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION PERFORMANCE EVENT GROW HOUSE WAITING ROOM
Winter Thermal Comfort (Daytime ) ENHANCED COMFORT - Localized Heating OPTIMAL OUTDOOR COMFORTPassive Solar Heat IMPROVED COMFORT - Filtered Sunlight and Protection from the Wind
DISCOMFORT LIKELY with long exposure due to limited direct sunlight and/or high winds.
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SUMMER PLAZA
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WINTER PLAZA
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BOARDWALK OVERLOOK The new boardwalk at the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge will gently ascend to provide uninterrupted waterfront access through Civic Canopy. From this elevated vantage point, the public can enjoy dramatic views of the water and back to the underside of the canopy.
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CANOPY PEEL DOWN a dip in the canopy structure lightly touches the boardwalk, forming a mini amphitheater for gazing out to the ferries and the Toronto Islands beyond. It also serves as an informal space for performances.
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STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTABILITY The load bearing system of Civic Canopy follows the principle of a classic shell structure. In contrary to standard beam and truss structures, where cross sections are varied in depth to provide stiffness, shells primarily rely on the curvature of their surfaces for structural performance and stability. As a result shells appear strikingly thin compared to conventional systems. To support the architectural concept of lightness and transparency the structure echoes the philosophy of grid shells, a subdivision of shells, in which the actual system is punctured with a series of holes without invalidating the principles of the three dimensional load bearing behavior. To accomplish this, several laminated timber louvers are arranged in parallel in various geometries and angles. They are connected with timber patches which are strategically distributed throughout the roof area. The patches couple the louvers together into one system of interacting individual components with the ability to counteract the full set of internal shell forces nx, ny, nxy, mx, my and mxy. Towards the supports, where forces are more concentrated, the patches are more densely arranged, whereas in midspan the full visual effect of the gap between the elements will be on display. The columns develop organically out of the composition of louvers, curving to vertical from the angled louvers and mimic shell behavior themselves. While a straight column is more efficient than a curved one in general, the curved columns mitigate punching shear due to concentrated point loading which is often a primary challenge of shell structures. Horizontally the system is braced within the program areas where the canopy touches the ground and acts like a shear wall. This approach allows for the column supports to be pinned connections with a slender expression as they touch the ground. Preliminary structural analysis has proven the viability of the system and the feasibility of laminated timber as the material of choice. It is intended that only local connection components and potentially the column supports will be carried out in steel to account for high load concentrations. This shingled grid shell approach will be a truly innovative structure resulting from the collaborative efforts between architects and engineers.
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18 01 - Grade 02 - Drainage piping 03 - Concrete footing w/ waterproofing 04 - Compacted gravel fill 05 - Galvanized steel bearing plate w/ high strength grout
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06 - Under-Paver Buildup: 25mm rigid foam insulation, sand setting bed, embedded radiant heating/cooling coils
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07 - Precast concrete pavers 08 - Removable aluminum grating at column base. Drainage channels at depressed footing below 09 - Galvanized steel base pin assembly spliced into wood column 10 - Integrated digital ticketing kiosk w/ printer at column base 11 - Structural glulam column w/ pressure preservative treatment
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12 - Exterior LED lights w/ dimmer and color control 13 - Removable galvanized steel anchor point clamped to coupling 14 - Pre-assembled structural shell sections: Curved glulam louvers w/ pressure preservative treatment 15 - Spliced connection w/ flitch plate at column
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16 - Galvanized steel cut W12 coupling w/ neoprene spacers and counterbored, bolted connection top and bottom 17 - Rigid electrical conduit at column line louvers 18 - Tensioned nylon bird control wires anchored to uppermost louvers
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LIGHTING Civic Canopy uses light to influence the perception of climate. Hot in the winter, cold in the summer, the colour temperature of lighting is used to influence the perception of climate and contributes to the actual manipulation of temperature within the space. A series of LED up lights are located at each column, and are programmable to produce a soft shifting plane of light that subtly mimics the waves of Lake Ontario. From the water, the underside of Civic Canopy produces a new horizontal and soft icon at the foreground of the Toronto skyline. Light blue in the summer and a glowing amber in the winter, this new colored sky will be a horizontal counterpoint to the vertical light of the CN Tower.
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SUMMER
WINTER
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IV. HARBOUR SQUARE PARK The design for Harbour Square Park ‘samples’ iconic Island landscapes – its meadows, lagoons and beaches – and imports them to the water’s edge. In this way, we establish the Park as a gateway to the Toronto Islands, with the pleasure and anticipation of a trip to the Islands beginning before visitors even leave the shore. To further the idea of the landscape as a set of phenomena and experiences, we analyzed the site and created a matrix of landscape and environmental factors (geology, hydrology, flora and fauna), cross-referenced with the goals and requirements of the landscape program (seasonal use, site circulation, integration of building and landscape, relationship to the water’s edge, an iconic destination). From this collection of cross-referenced relationships, an integrated landscape experience begins to emerge.
ICONIC
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Flora/Fauna: Sampling from the Island
WATERS EDGE
BLDG - LANDSCAPE
MULTIPLE USERS/SEASONAL SITE CIRC - ADJ STREETS
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CROSS REFERENCING LANDSCAPE FACTORS & PROJECT GOALS
Flora+Fauna-Building+Landscape: The new tree plantings find their way into the building, creating a singular parklike gesture with the canopy. Flora+Fauna-Multiple Users and Seasons: A range of ground covers offers flexibility in program, from large lawns for flexible event spaces, to more intimate children’s garden, taller, more wild native grasslands that provide higher level of ecological value. Flora+Fauna-Site Circulation: Tree canopy also provides clarity for circulation and defines program spaces.
Geology-Iconic: The use of rock formations, outcrops, erratics inspired by the glacial history of the site create space and organize the landscape Geology-Water’s edge: The sampling of beach geologies from the islands softens the Harbour edges
Hydrology-Water’s edge: Sampling beach conditions from the islands provides a new form and experience along the edge Hydrology-Building+Landscape: Water as a design feature plays prominent role in both landscape (water feature, skating) and within the building (Ice Cave/Mist Room). Hydrology-Multiple Users and Seasons: A central water feature changes from summer cooling to winter ice skating
FLORA / FAUNA
Flora+Fauna-Water’s edge: Planting sampled from the water’s edge at beaches and wetlands from neighboring island landscape.
Hydrology-Iconic: Large-scale floating wetland technology provides a new juxtaposition between the ecological and the highly constructed.
Hydrology-Site Circulation: Boardwalk proposed in the master plan cuts transect across several hydrological landscapes: beach, wetland, marsh, constructed edge.
HYDROLOGY
Flora+Fauna-Iconic: The tree canopy is primarily a mixed arboretum of iconic maples, providing a range of summer time textures, fall color and forms when covered by winter snow.
ICONIC
Geology-Building+Landscape: The ground (i.e. paving) is expressed as one large piece of geology, tying together inside-outside, building-landscape
Geology-Site Circulation: Geological ‘strands’ extend north south as pedestrian and auto circulation to connect the new landscape to the urban fabric. These strands thicken where required to accommodate bike and auto parking. In the east-west direction, these circulation strands provide additional movement that reinforces the boardwalk and promenade of the master plan.
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GEOLOGY
Geology-Multiple Users and Seasons: The enmeshing of park space and civic square space provides for overlapping uses throughout the seasons.
WATERS EDGE
BLDG - LANDSCAPE
MULTIPLE USERS/SEASONAL SITE CIRC - ADJ STREETS
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A FABRICATED LANDSCAPE The process of sampling makes evident the site’s history of fabricating landscape. Just as this was once an extension of the historic harbour edge, it now becomes an extension of the ecological and experiential qualities of today’s Harbour. A Drop-off and turnaround for ferry terminal B Rock slide and cave C Terminal interior with extended landscape ground plane D Fountain & skating rink E Children’s garden F Beach G Floating Wetland H Lily Pad marsh I Bike Parking J Car Parking for Condominium Residents
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H C
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VIEW TO LANDSCAPE FROM FERRY TERMINAL
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Floating wetland
SECTION 1
PLAN 1 40
Boardwalk
Granite Promenade
Bike parking
Rock outcrop
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VIEW IN THE LANDSCAPE SLIDE : SUMMER
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VIEW IN THE LANDSCAPE SLIDE : WINTER
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BOARDWALK
SECTION 2
PLAN 2 46
GRANITE PROMENADE
TALL GRASS
ROCK OUTCROP WITH SLIDE CONCRETE SEATING AREA BENEATH
AUTO CIRCULATION
LAWN
TALL GRASS FIELD
PARKING
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VIEW TO THE TORONTO ISLANDS & ROWING THROUGH A FABRICATED LANDSCAPE
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FLOATING WETLAND AND BOARDWALK SECTION 3
PLAN 3 52
WATERFALL AERATION
NEW BEACH
STONE STEPS TO BEACH
EXISTING RESIDENCES
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CHILDREN’S GARDEN
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PIER
SECTION 4
PLAN 4 56
BOARDWALK
GRANITE PROMENADE
BULB SEATING AREA, WATER FEATURE, WINTER SKATING
CHILDREN’S GARDEN
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INTEGRATED CIRCULATION PATHS Site circulation accommodates vehicles, bicycles, carts, pedestrians, and water-based traffic, and users with an array of needs and abilities. The circulation plan consists of integrated access paths arrayed across the site from a focal point at the Terminal, analogous to the manner in which Toronto’s rivers and creeks traverse Toronto’s diverse urban fabric to converge on Lake Ontario.
KEY PEDESTRIAN
BICYCLE
VEHICULAR
PERMEABLE PAVING PARKING & DROPOFF MASTER PLAN BOARDWALK
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INTEGRATION INTO THE WATERFRONT PARK SYSTEM West 8 Master plan (Boardwalk and Promenade) The Toronto Waterfront Masterplan boardwalk and promenade continue through the site: the Boardwalk is lifted at the Ferry Terminal to allow for direct passenger access to the ferry slips, and the Promenade weaves under the Terminal, its hallmark row of trees dissipating under the building canopy. Martin Goodman Trail The Martin Goodman trail is also complemented by the proposal for the site. Ample bicycle parking and designated bike paths allow for either pause or continued circulation. The placement of the Jack Layton sculpture marks the bicycle terminus in the ferry terminal, thus tying together the landmark waterfront Martin Goodman trail and the passion shared by Jack Layton with many Torontonians for bicycle transportation. Hybrid Landscape : Harbour + Square + Park In addition to the landscape plan harbouring sampled island ecologies and multiple uses, it also brings forth the latent typologies of civic space described in its name. It engages with the harbour promenade, creates open paved spaces for large crowds, and welcomes recreation and rest through lush planted zones, thus rendering Harbour Square Park each of those things.
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PLAY! There are a number of play areas under the canopy and within the landscape that will appeal to all ages. A â&#x20AC;&#x153;rockâ&#x20AC;? hill partly under the terminal canopy will provide a unique vantage point for viewing the site. A sculptural slide traversing the slope is designed to also be a great sledding hill in the winter. Rope swings and hammocks suspended from the canopy provide a play environment for older kids. In the summer, a mist wall and shallow pool provide a playful and immersive cooling experience on the warmest days for young children and grownups alike. In the cold of winter this space transforms into an ice architecture where children can hide and play in a spectacular inverted igloo. A large fountain west of the building canopy functions as a skating rink in the winter. Nearby, dense planting in the Childrensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Garden hosts migratory bird and butterfly species and provides intimate spaces for respite, exploration, and learning. The perimeters of both of these areas are defined by long benches, which allow visitors to observe either the open park space or the more idiosyncratic activities in these zones.
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MIST ROOM
ROCK HILL AND SLIDE
SKATING AND SLEDDING
CHILDREN’S GARDEN
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VI. PHASE 1 We propose to build the Geyser Clock of Civic Canopy near the center of Harbour Square Park - aligned with the termination of Bay Street, and prominently visible from the current ticket queuing area - as Phase 1 of the project. The Geyser Clock will signal each departing ferry with an exuberant burst of water and a splash. While dormant, the geyser clock will emit a burbling flow of water that responds to passing motion and sound, providing an interactive play area for children, and a cooling feature for waiting visitors on hot summer days. Predicting the Ice Cave of Civic Canopy, in the winter Geyser Clock is transformed into an ice sculpture that blocks the wind and provides a contemplative space for experiencing the landscape while imagining the future transformations of the site. As Civic Canopy anticipates adjustments to the ticketing paradigm including the introduction of timed ticketing and mobile purchasing, during this phase it would also be useful to experiment with these concepts. The introduction of timed ticketing in particular would benefit from the Geyser Clockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fluid announcement to departing passengers. Preliminary consultation with fountain engineers and cost estimators give us confidence that this design can be realized within the stated budget of CAD $600,000.
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FUTURE PHASE WITH GEYSER
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PHASE 1 LOCATION
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VI. LOGISTICS
SITE CIRCULATION The complex question of access to the site - including the need to accommodate vehicles, bicycles, carts, pedestrians, and water-based circulation is accommodated through the concept of a hybrid landscape. Just as the historic rivers once ran to Lake Ontario through areas that now make up Toronto’s urban fabric, this scheme allows for users with an array of needs to move through the site. Pedestrians are offered options for progressing through the site, with wide and direct fast access to the ferry terminal, and a more meandering path that engages with the park elements and landscape program. These pathways are surfaced with asphalt pavers. Cyclists are provided clear circulation to the terminal and to bike parking near the north east corner of the Ferry Terminal structure. This parking area is nestled next to a large rock outcrop, which mitigates views of bike parking from the remainder of the landscape spaces. Similar to the pedestrian pathways, the bike lanes are surfaced with a light asphalt paver. Auto drop-off lanes are defined by Grass-Crete pavers, which provides a vehicle appropriate, but green and permeable drive surface, re-inforcing the parklike approach to the terminal. Auto access for condo residents is provided on the west side of the site, pulled near the building to limit its impact in the park areas. Stone edges separate the parking from the park. The parking stalls themselves are surfaced with permeable Grass-Crete pavers. Taxi queing is provided along the main entry drive, also surfaced with Grass-Crete pavers. Staff and service parking is provided adjacent to the new operations building.
FERRY OPERATIONS A new Ferry Terminal operations building is located south of the hotel and at the end of the Yonge Street service access road. It houses offices and a maintenance shop matching their current size. A staff parking lot is located next to it which clears cars away from the west edge of the Yonge Street Slip, allowing for a pedestrian promenade linked to the Waterfront Master Plan. The “Shore Stories” Children’s Mural is relocated from its current site to form the west wall of this building, a prominent location for this art work that will be highly visible to Civic Canopy visitors while obscuring a more private and back-of-house space. Taxi queing is provided along the main entry drive, also surfaced with Grass-Crete pavers. Staff and service parking is provided adjacent to the new operations building. 64
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VEHICLE ACCESS
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
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SERVICE ROAD
PROMENADE CONDO PARKING
BIKE PARKING
PRIVATE ROAD
OPERATIONS BUILDING
FERRY VEHICLE LINE
PROMENADE BOARDWALK
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ARTWORK RELOCATION The Jack Layton Memorial sculpture finds a prominent new home under the north edge of Civic Canopy - a foreground to the structure, and a welcoming gesture to visitors. The “Shore Stories” Children’s Mural is relocated to the west wall of the new operations building where it can visually anchor the east edge of the terminal site. SHORE STORIES
JACKS GOT YOUR BACK MEMORIAL SCULPTURE
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SITE IMPACTS
VI. LOGISTICS
Seawall In the design team’s experience, the condition of the seawall along the project site will be a significant issue, and we have therefore limited to a minimum the removal or construction of new hardened seawalls. The construction of the Harbourfront Water’s Edge Revitalization project entailed the rebuilding of the degraded retaining wall along the York Quay, which had been undermined by years of heavy industrial usage, freeze and thaw cycles, and wave action. We anticipate that a similar situation may have occurred at the Ferry Terminal and Harbour Square Park. Should the project proceed to design development and construction, we would expect to retain the services of the appropriate coastal engineering expertise. Wave And Ice Action The design of the boardwalk, and potentially of bridges and piers, must take into account the action of the Lake over the course of the year. Based on aA’s experience at the Harbourfront Water’s Edge, it will be critical that these features be robust enough to withstand loading and offloading ferries, tall ships and other vessels, while also being flexible enough to accommodate the lateral and vertical thrust of ice and waves. Building on Landfill Non-homogenous materials were used to create the land on which the Ferry Terminal and Park now stand. Its composition is unknown and it will have compacted inconsistently, providing a question regarding the stability required for load-bearing structures. Sub-grade rehabilitation may be required for the specialized foundations and supporting slabs of light poles and other windloaded structures. Bedding for sub-grade infrastructure will be carefully designed and constructed to minimize shifting or settling over time. Unexpected Site Conditions How will we deal with unexpected site conditions, and the overlapping infrastructure on site? The City’s below-grade infrastructure is highly complicated, and it takes significant effort to co-ordinate the inputs of City Planning, Urban Forestry, Works, and other staff, as well as Toronto Hydro, Enbridge, and other utilities. Implementing new infrastructure, including shoreline works, will involve challenges with immovable features, poor soils, and issues related to alignments, coverages, regulatory conflicts, coordination, approvals and ownership. Initial design options will not engage these issues in detail, but we understand that these issues must be engaged during eventual design development phases of work. Other Environmental Challenges Any design decisions that involve the water’s edge, must take into account the potential impacts on fish and aquatic organisms. Initial design work done during subsequent phases of design work will take account of the potential for enriching fish habitats off the piers and quay, as architectsAlliance did for the Harbourfront Water’s Edge.
UNIVERSAL ACCESS Our team will create an atmosphere of inclusiveness, creating built form and open space that is easily readable for people with visual impairment, has more visual stimuli for people with auditory impairment, and enables residents and visitors with mobility issues to easily and fully access the pleasures of the Waterfront and the Toronto Islands. Our approach for the Terminal and Park as a Centre of Excellence incorporates the fundamental principles of Universal Design: equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort and size, and space for approach and use. Accessibility is integral to the design, of benefit to all residents, workers and visitors. It will return the Islands to its historic status as an amenity for all Torontonians and their guests. We will meet and exceed the requirements set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), with design strategies that include: •
Ramps and continuous walkways throughout the site, with ample turnarounds for walkers, wheelchairs and power chairs, and for those requiring companions or guide animals
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Vehicular drop-offs and barrier-free surface parking with flat-slab access suitable for the TTC’s WheelTrans service and private cars used by passengers or drivers with mobility issues
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Paving treatments and plantings will identify changes in grade, various destinations (e.g. ferry lines vs. pathway to the boardwalk), and various usages (e.g. a boardwalk ‘slow lane’ for strollers, the elder and those with mobility and vision challenges)
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Benches and other seating every 30 meters, between the Queen’s Quay transit terminal and the Terminal/Park site
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Fully accessible washrooms, conveniently located at multiple points on site
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Audio, braille and super-graphic signage to identify ticket purchase kiosks/ terminals, and to announce ferry schedules, public service and emergency broadcasts
SUSTAINABILITY The intention of our design concept reflects both the City of Toronto Green Standard and Waterfront Toronto’s Mandatory Green Building Requirements. At a highest level, our ambition is to establish a continuous, universally accessible and environmentally friendly open space around the Terminal and Park – a public space that provides a model for the sustainably responsible regeneration of a valuable Waterfront site, while educating visitors and local residents about the Waterfront and Islands as a environmentally sensitive site, and renewing the perceptual and emotional connection between land and lake that was familiar to previous generations. At this stage of the project, we have sought to lay the foundation for sustainable structure and open space, outlining an approach to sustainability that will be fleshed out in subsequent stages of design. In establishing this foundation we will: •
Return portions of the shoreline to a naturalized state and re-introduce native water and land plant species, thereby creating a gateway or liminal layer that provides a foretaste of the Islands’ meadow, lagoon and riparian landscapes
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Capture and reuse stormwater for geyser and seasonal water features
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Introduce a Bike Share Toronto station and cart rental and lock-ups on site, together with expanded bicycle parking for local visitors and residents
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Reduce short-term surface parking on site, by providing convenient vehicular drop-offs and directing drivers to the ample commercial parking available in the immediate vicinity
Future elaboration of our design approach will investigate a variety of energy efficiency, water management and other sustainable design strategies, including: Construction waste diversion at 75% or better New construction materials sourced from manufacturers with high recycled content LED signage, street and landscape lighting Low-flow toilets and motion-controlled taps and dispensers in public and staff washrooms Occupancy sensors for lighting in offices, washrooms, and other spaces used intermittently Water efficiency strategies, such as storm and grey water use for public and City staff toilets
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TEAM
ARCHITECTURE Diller Scofidio+Renfro New York, NY architectsAlliance Toronto, ON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Hood Design Emeryville, CA NAK Design Strategies Toronto, ON STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING schlaich bergermann and partner lp New York, NY ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS Atelier Ten New York, NY LIGHTING Lighting Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Observatoire International New York, NY PLAY Carve Amsterdam, NL TRANSPORTATION BA Consulting Group Ltd. Toronto, ON 73