Safdie Architects has shared its design for ORCA Toronto, a proposed mixed-use development in Downtown Toronto that weaves together the surrounding neighborhoods with a new 10.5-acre park.
By decking over the 100-meter-wide, 800-meter-long rail corridor leading to Union Station, the project looks to reclaim a 16.5-acre site just west of CN Tower. Of the 16.5 acres, 10.5 acres are available for an urban park with six acres that feature residential, office, hotel, retail, and transit facilities.
Safdie’s design features a configuration of slender residential towers connected by elevated bridges that accommodate housing units, gardens, and recreational facilities. Pedestrian bridges will connect the towers and create special public and community amenities. The shared indoor and outdoor amenities will exist at multiple levels and encourage interaction among residents, fostering a sense of community.
The design will also activate 65% of the site’s area through a multilevel park. The park, designed in collaboration with PWP Landscape Architecture, will feature open lawns, playgrounds, walking trails, and bike baths that are accessible by ramps, escalators, and elevators interwoven throughout the development.
Shops, restaurants, and cafes will be directly connected with the park’s outdoor areas on several levels. The retail galleria seamlessly integrates with the park and is designed to be opened to the park in good weather and enclosed during the winter months. Direct access for pedestrians and bicyclists will be provided on all North-South cross streets to allow free movement from the surrounding streets to the park without requiring entrance through the retail galleria.
The project incorporates nine towers in total, including a corner office tower and eight residential towers that will provide approximately 3,000 housing units.
Safdie Architects developed the project in collaboration with Arup Engineering.
Related Stories
| Jun 4, 2013
SOM research project examines viability of timber-framed skyscraper
In a report released today, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill discussed the results of the Timber Tower Research Project: an examination of whether a viable 400-ft, 42-story building could be created with timber framing. The structural type could reduce the carbon footprint of tall buildings by up to 75%.
| Apr 30, 2013
First look: North America's tallest wooden building
The Wood Innovation Design Center (WIDC), Prince George, British Columbia, will exhibit wood as a sustainable building material widely availablearound the globe, and aims to improve the local lumber economy while standing as a testament to new construction possibilities.
| Mar 3, 2013
Hines acquires Archstone's interest in $700 million CityCenterDC project
The Washington D.C. office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced the acquisition of the ownership interest of their partner, Archstone, in the mixed-use CityCenterDC project that is currently under construction in downtown Washington, D.C.
| Feb 17, 2013
Pakistan to get world's tallest tower in $45 billion deal
Newly signed mega deal will fund construction of several massive developments in Karachi, including a mixed-use tower that will dwarf the Burj Khalifa.
| Jul 12, 2012
EE&K and Knutson Construction selected for the Interchange in Minneapolis
Design-build contract for $79.3 million transportation hub will connect transit with culture.
| Jul 2, 2012
Bernards building mixed-use project in Beverly Hills
The project includes 88 luxury apartment homes atop a 14,000-sf Trader Joe’s market and a new coffee shop.
| Jun 1, 2012
New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available
By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
