Construction of a new Etobicoke Civic Centre has moved a step closer to reality with approval by Toronto City Council of the conceptual design developed by a partnership between Toronto and Copenhagen architects.
The competition-winning design by Adamson Associates Architects, Henning Larsen Architects and PMA Landscape Architects will serve as a blueprint for the development of the 46,500-square-metre centre.
A report examining the merits of a new build versus ongoing maintenance and operation of the existing civic centre was presented to council earlier this month.
If ultimately approved down the road, the project would replace the existing West Mall Complex.
In an update posted on its website, Build Toronto said the next steps in the multi-phased approvals process includes proceeding with:
- a detailed building program review in consultation with city stakeholders;
- completion of site investigation, schematic design and design development for the new civic centre;
- preparation of a “Class C” cost estimate, which is typically based on schematic design, and a project budget schedule; and
- identification of a project delivery methodology.
City council approval will be sought upon completion of each phase.
A report is slated to be presented to council in the first quarter of 2019 on the results of Phase 2, which culminates in design development.
Proposed subsequent phases include detailed design and preparation of contract documents (2019 to 2021) and tendering and construction award (2021 to 2022).
At this juncture, ground is expected to be broken in 2022.
The new civic centre would be part of the six-hectare Westwood Theatre Lands redevelopment at Bloor Street West and Kipling Avenue in the city’s west end.
The project would include municipal offices, a community recreation centre, a Toronto Public Library district branch, a childcare centre and an outdoor civic plaza.
In July 2016, council directed Build Toronto, in collaboration with the city, to launch a design competition for a new civic centre on the 13.8-acre site along with the development of a business case for a new build.
The winning design was announced in early May of this year.
Items that were taken into account by a five-member jury included environmental sustainability, flexibility, community identity and pedestrian scale.
Build Toronto is an independent real estate and development investment corporation established by the City of Toronto to create value from the city’s underutilized real estate assets.
Prior to the launch of the design competition, the agency had facilitated a master planning exercise for redevelopment of the Westwood Theatre Lands. That exercise was completed in 2014.
The theatre closed its doors in 1998 and was subsequently demolished in 2013.
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