ONTARIO PLACE
PARTISANS + JANET ROSENBERG & STUDIO
Music. Culture. Ideas. Sport. Ontario Place: Yours to Discover. Again.
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Contents About PARTISANS Janet Rosenberg & Studio Design Thinking Insights Creative Visioning
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Context
The Past The Present
Global Scan
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Insights
First-Mover (Dis)advantage Permanent vs. Temporary: Striking a Balance Accessibility: Physical & Psychological Strategic Partnerships & Synergies Demographics & Inclusivity
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Creative Visioning Vision Old Map New Map Passive & Active Solutions Passive Solutions Active Solutions
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Site Strategy The Spine The Pavilion The Commons The Pods The Cinesphere The Wild The Waterfront Business Case Programming Calendar Matrix
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Team
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PARTISANS PARTISANS is an emerging Torontobased studio whose work across all scales pushes the boundaries of craftsmanship, technology, and storytelling. We are a young and diverse team of architects, artists, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and cultural enthusiasts devoted to a cause: smart, beautiful, and provocative design that makes the improbable possible. We tell stories. But not just any stories. We build architectural narratives that elicit counternarratives—stories that spring to life through spontaneous mutations and unexpected cracks. Beauty emerges when design misbehaves. We are idealistic enough to believe in the political and poetical power of architecture. We also know that the best work emerges when you join forces with others—makers and doers across different disciplines and industries, and clients who become true collaborators and friends. We undertake rigorous research to deliver creative visioning that is at once firmly grounded and highly imaginative. We identify blind spots and draw on our integrated skill set—artistic innovation, programming and activation, and technological agility—to devise sophisticated, holistic solutions. Our objective: To generate added value by aligning business strategy with visioning to establish the foundations for long-term success and cultural vibrancy.
We aspire to be city builders building better cities by innovating on the front lines of ideas, culture, forms, materials, and typologies. With every project, we design to optimize performance and experience with an eye toward inspiring awe and delight. Architecture is not just the act of designing a building; it’s a way of seeing, thinking, and making that expands and even revolutionizes our experience of the world. Our intentions are earnest, our enthusiasm, unblinking. Join us.
JANET ROSENBERG & STUDIO Janet Rosenberg & Studio Inc. is one of Canada’s most distinguished landscape architecture and urban design studios. The Studio is recognized for its extensive and award-winning portfolio of work that includes public, commercial, and institutional spaces as well as private residential gardens, green roofs, and condominium towers. We are creative thinkers who develop out-of-the-box solutions as a collaborative team. Drawing from individual strengths, we create treasured, ecologicallyresponsible landscapes that respond to the demands of the urban environment, and engage, excite and enhance the quality of life for those who inhabit them.
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About DESIGN THINKING Design thinking entails new ways of seeing and doing. It’s about diagnosing blind spots—identifying unarticulated and unmet needs—to generate unexpected and exceptional solutions. Design thinking is about combining imagination and foresight with tastemaking and community. It aims to challenge rote methodologies and spark imaginative alternatives that lead to thriving economies and communities. Design thinking is context-driven and responsive. It requires a scrupulous focus on details and wide-eyed attention to the global landscape.
INSIGHTS We ground our design thinking in ethnographic and narratological research in an effort to identify and interpret prevailing attitudes, trends, preferences, and aspirational experiences. Drawing on local and international comparisons as well as interviews with stakeholders, leaders, policymakers, and community members, we arrive at a comprehensive understanding of urban environments, consumer predilections, and community needs and desires. The result is a series of contextualized “Insights” that peel back the layers and enable clients to hone their visions from an informed perspective
CREATIVE VISIONING PARTISANS is a team of cultural architects—city builders building better cities. We synthesize the output from our design thinking charettes, research, and interviews to generate designs that reflect a clear creative vision and concrete strategies for achieving it. We specialize in state-of-the-art 3D models, massing studies, and renderings that demonstrate how smart and beautiful design is the incontrovertible key to economic and cultural prosperity.
Design thinking is about storytelling to engender enduring memories and experiences. It’s an iterative and dynamic process that draws on intellectual curiosity and artistic rigour. Innovation on community, municipal, and national levels is, at its core, a function of solution-focused creative action. As cultural architects, we use the charette— intensive interdisciplinary design and planning sessions—to achieve our goal: to make the improbable viable and the beautiful, indispensable.
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CONTEXT The Past 08 The Present 10
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“Ontario Place is a mirror to show you yourself. Your heritage. Your land. Your work. Your creativity. And your tomorrow.” —Ontario Place promotional brochure, 1969
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The Past When Ontario Place opened its doors in 1971, it was an exciting step into the future. Its innovative architecture and varied landscapes signalled an era of possibility, optimism, and vision. Perched on the shore of one the country’s Great Lakes, Ontario Place was a gleaming showcase for a province coming into economic and cultural vitality. It proudly boasted Eberhard Zeidler’s Pods, a proliferative series of suspended geometries, and the Cinesphere’s glowing geodesic dome, which housed the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre. The Forum, Children’s Village, public marina, and islands all drew people in droves. The site’s exhibitions and entertainment promoted the province and its heritage while firmly positioning Ontario as an interlocutor with the rest of the country and the world.
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The Present 3
On February 1, 2012 the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport announced the partial closure of Ontario Place to prepare it for a revitalization plan (target completion date: 2017). Since shuttering its doors, Ontario Place’s West Island has often sat empty (1), an amusement park relic gesturing to another time and place. The connection between the site and the imaginations of Torontonians and Ontarians has frayed, and its once prized lakeside setting has contributed instead to a perceived sense of isolation from, rather than integration into, the fabric of the city. 2
Summer-time concerts at the Molson Amphitheatre and Echo Beach (2) on the East Island have continued to operate and draw crowds. More recently, the West Island has started to host events, such as the Mac and Cheese Festival (3), UJA Walk Festival, and the acclaimed in / Future art and music festival (4,5), that have generated a certain degree of mystique again; many third-party operators have demonstrated renewed interest in renting out parts of Ontario Place as a backdrop for their events. Yet, without the updated infrastructure, anchor partner tenants, or a food and beverage ecosystem to support bigger and simultaneous events, the site isn’t equipped to handle the additional interest that would otherwise bring in much-needed revenue. Insofar as Ontario Place is turning away potential clients and not adequately outfitted to accommodate additional traffic across all seasons, it is a sorely underperforming asset. The iconic site has the demonstrated potential to yield high returns. A revitalized Ontario Place must forge new spatial and emotional connections with the public that will reinvigorate its identity and purpose.
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GLOBAL SCAN
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GLOBAL SCAN 14
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Parc de La Villette / Paris, France La Villette has become known as an unprecedented type of park, one based on “culture” rather than “nature.” The park is located on what was one of the last remaining large sites in Paris, a 125-acre expanse previously occupied by the central slaughter houses. In addition to the master plan, the project involved the design and construction of over 25 buildings, promenades, covered walkways, bridges, and landscaped gardens. A system of dispersed “points”—the red enameled steel follies that support different cultural and leisure activities—is superimposed on a system of lines that emphasizes movement through the park. 15
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GLOBAL SCAN
Superkilen / Copenhagen, Denmark Superkilen is a half a mile long urban space wedging through one of the most ethnically diverse and socially challenged neighborhoods in Denmark. It has one overarching idea that it is conceived as a giant exhibition of urban best practice–a sort of collection of global found objects that come from 60 different nationalities of the people inhabiting the area surrounding it. A sort of surrealist collection of global urban diversity that in fact reflects the true nature of the local neighborhood rather than perpetuating a petrified image of homogenous Denmark. 16
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GLOBAL SCAN 17
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Millennium Park / Chicago A state-of-the-art collection of architecture, landscape design and art that provide the backdrop for hundreds of free cultural programs including concerts, exhibitions, tours, and family activities. Millennium Park is a new kind of town square – a lively, spectacular gathering spot located in the heart of the city and a destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike.
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House of Water / Copenhagen, Denmark Conceived as a public recreation area for residents and tourists, as well as an educational facility, House of Water is one of five elements of a waterfront revitalization plan in Copenhagen. Here a harbour bath features heated inlet pools and sauna caves.
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Harbour Baths / Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen’s harbour is in the midst of a transformation from an industrial port and traffic junction to being the cultural and social centre of the city. The Harbour Bath has been instrumental in this evolution—it extends the adjacent park over the water by incorporating the practical needs and demands for accessibility, safety and programmatic flexibility. The Harbour Bath offers an urban harbour landscape with dry-docks, piers, boat ramps, cliffs, playgrounds and pontoons.
Minneapolis Riverfront / Minneapolis, Minnesota Urban revitalization project with an objective to re-center the city around the river while making strong connections to the neighbourhoods, improving the ecological health of the area, providing year-round recreation and open space opportunities. 20
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Faaborg Harbour Bath / Faaborg, Denmark The Faaborg Harbour Bath is based on the idea of creating an open sea bathing area with piers branching out seawards creating swimming areas between them. The various functions define every pier in the bath. This creates a “finger plan” with open basins between four ‘fingers’ of different width and length, where each finger offers a new way to get in the water; each pool has a specific use. The wooden piers form ramps, stairs, sitting opportunities and small pools for children.
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Viewing Tower / Helsinki An international team of students from Finland, Japan, the U.S., the Netherlands, Italy and Portugal built this beautiful eggshaped tower at Helsinki’s Zoo. Supervised by The Helsinki University of Technology and local architects, the 10-meterhigh structure was made using steam bending, a traditional and eco-friendly wood-shaping technique commonly used in boat construction.
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Mirador en Quilotoa Shalala / Zumbahua, Ecuador The primary objective the Quilotoa Shalala viewpoint was to create a structure that allows for the uninterrupted observation of the surroundings where the users can safely reach the border of the volcano crater’s cliff.
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INSIGHTS First-Mover (Dis)advantage 26 Permanent vs. Temporary: Striking a Balance 28 Accessibility: Physical & Psychological 30 Strategic Partnerships & Synergies 32 Demographics & Inclusivity 34
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Ontario Place Attendance, 1971-2016 2
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Ontario Place
Notable Events & Institutions (GTA)
A. Ontario Place opens B. Opens Canada’s first waterslide C. Concrete silos opened on West Island D. Wilderness Adventure ride opens E. Free admission introduced (20th Anniversary) F. Play All Day pass is introduced G. Opening of the Molson Amphitheatre & Atlantis H. Free admission repealed I. Introduction of nationwide fast-food restaurants, i.e., Pizza Pizza & Mr. Sub J. Free admission reintroduced (40th Anniversary) K. Partial closure of Ontario Place L. RFP for interim activation plan issued
1. Federally-funded Harbourfront Centre opens; Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (née Toronto Island Ferry Docks) is renovated. 2. CN Tower opens 3. Canada’s Wonderland opens in Vaughn 4. Economic recession 5. Wild Water Kingdom opens in Brampton 6. Splash Works opens at Canada’s Wonderland 7. Ontario Science Centre opens IMAX screen 8. SARS Outbreak
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First-Mover (Dis)advantage During the 70s and 80s, Ontario became an increasingly prosperous province; as such, a robust commercial and cultural evolution took place. Festivals like TIFF rose to prominence; The Ontario Science Centre got its stride; and Canada’s Wonderland became one of the most popular theme parks in the world. The rise of cultural institutions, museums, and mass entertainment complexes all gradually contributed to an erosion of Ontario Place’s relevance as a destination. Unfortunately, the site and its programming did not evolve technologically, architecturally, or culturally in ways that would have helped to better future-proof Ontario Place.
In order to become exciting and relevant again, Ontario Place needs to adopt a strong vision that anchors its purpose and programming and adhere to revitalization strategies that will ensure its reintegration into the minds and hearts of Torontonians, Ontarians, and the world at large. What follows are suggestions for strategies that Ontario Place can successfully reboot its image and offerings and become revenue positive again.
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Luminato Festival / Toronto For the 2016 Luminato Festival PARTISANS converted one of the world’s largest decommissioned power stations into a temporary cultural and performing arts venue. The Hearn Generating Station is a striking monument to a bygone industrial era and a defining feature of Toronto’s cityscape; yet, its legacy has become unmoored from its original purpose. In the spirit of Cedric Price’s Fun Palace scheme, PARTISANS made the Hearn accessible to the public, offering architectural, cultural, and digital interventions that drew people together to imagine the future of Toronto
Park Avenue Armory / New York Park Avenue Armory’s mission has been to revitalize the landmark building as a center for unconventional works in the performing and visual arts, while simultaneously maintaining and restoring the historic aspects of the building. Part palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory fills a critical void in the cultural ecology of New York by enabling artists to create—and audiences to experience—unconventional work that cannot be mounted in traditional performance halls and museums.
The Fourth Plinth / Trafalgar Square, London A plinth built in 1841 intended for a sculpture that never became manifest is today a platform for a series of temporary artworks commissioned by leading national and international artists.
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Permanent vs. Temporary —Striking a Balance Built in response to the success of Montreal’s Expo 67, Ontario Place was designed to be a premier showcase for the Province of Ontario. When Ontario Place launched, it featured the Pods/Cinesphere complex, which housed Canada’s first IMAX theatre, the South Marina, Forum, a reflecting pool, pedal boat rentals, restaurants, boutiques, a number of lookout points and promenades, and the precursor to the Children’s Village. The first brochure presented Ontario Place as a “work in progress” that would be ever-changing and have something for everyone. Over the years, Ontario Place continued to add permanent structures, such as Canada’s first waterslide (1978), seven concrete silos that launched the Ontario North program (1980), the Wilderness Adventure Ride (1984), and the Waterfall Showplace (1984). Programming consolidated around edutainment that promoted the Ontario North
theme, and various amusement park rides continued to sprout up throughout the 90s. The proliferation of theme and waterpark structures gradually consumed more and more of the West Island, in turn minimizing Ontario Place’s capacity to be a flexible platform for versatile programming. Moreover, while the addition of more ticketed amenities offered greater revenue streams, it eliminated the possibility for leisure visiting. Today, passive forms of edutainment have given way to active programming, such as immersive experiences and incubation or residency projects that recapture the kind of “workin-progress” spirit that initially catalyzed Ontario Place. Many successful civic parks, festivals, and interventions strike a balance between permanence and temporary continuous programming. Luminato Festival 2016 was one such local example: the found architecture of the
eviscerated Hearn Generating Station became the platform for 17 days of arts and culture that drew unparalleled attendance for the 10-year-old festival. The in / Future arts and culture festival that took place on the West Island in September 2016 is an indication of the public’s appetite for temporary events that unfold in unusual and inspiring sites. Ontario Place is home to whimsical and wondrous permanent architecture of significant heritage value. To reinvigorate its mandate and contemporaneity, Ontario Place can strategically redeploy its iconic architecture to create found, flexible spaces that can host an ever-changing roster of exhibitions, performances, residencies, incubators, and product launches that offer something for everyone.
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Accessibility —Physical & Psychological Since its partial closure in early 2012, Ontario Place has been inaccessible, both literally and psychologically. Citizens perceive the site not only as closed, but closed off from the rest of the city. As such, it does not register in people’s imaginations as a place to visit, let alone as a premier destination for events and activities. Accessibility is a state of mind that stems from a site’s physical porosity and intelligibility, which have everything to do with passive strategies, i.e., roads, bike lanes, trails, pathways, and entry points. Ontario Place enjoys incredible views of Lake Ontario to the south, but is virtually hermetically sealed
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by parking lots (1) and streams of fast-moving traffic on Lakeshore Boulevard to the north (2, 3). The TTC discontinued direct transit to Ontario Place in 2001, which further sequestered the site. In today’s Toronto, an overwhelming number of people use bikes for transportation, sport, and leisure. The City has responded by creating bike lanes along many major arteries as well as designated shared roadways on quieter city streets. In its current configuration, Ontario Place does not link up to the waterfront’s main path, the Martin Goodman Trail (4), and people cannot enter the site for leisure use. To improve Ontario Place’s physical and psychological porosity, it is critical to revitalize its access points and passive site plan. Parking can continue to play a revenue-generating role; however, by opening up the site to bikers, walkers, joggers, and rollerbladers with the help of clear wayfinding and elements of universal design to improve accessibility, Ontario Place will become reintegrated into the public’s leisure and sport routines and overall consciousness.
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Wish List (Not Confirmed)
Choir!Choir!Choir! event at the Art Gallery of Ontario 32
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Strategic Partnerships & Synergies Toronto’s rich and varied arts and culture scene has grown exponentially in the last two decades. In addition to marquee film festivals like TIFF and Hot Docs as well as important niche ones such as Inside Out and imagineNATIVE, Toronto hosts over 100 film festivals every year. Larger arts and culture festivals like Luminato, Fringe, SummerWorks, and Nuit Blanche, as well as popular architectural festivals and competitions, such as Doors Open Toronto and Winter Stations, have increasingly become ingrained in people’s minds and calendars. The list of concerts, museums, university and private galleries, and specialized arts and culture institutions like the Design Exchange, the Gardiner Museum, the Textile Museum, and the Bata Shoe Museum is virtually endless. That is to say nothing of the scores of private and industry parties, corporate events, maker fairs, product launches, sports tournaments, and conferences that take place in the city on any given day.
to rebuild caché and seed new business models, Ontario Place’s programming team could leverage its existing infrastructure by forging strategic partnerships with various public and private institutions and festivals whose corporate and sponsorship networks could yield significant additional revenue. For example, a collaboration with a nonprofit organization like TIFF, who may not be able to afford full market rates to rent out the Cinesphere, would garner unparalleled visibility and prestige. Moreover, TIFF’s affiliations with studios and distributors has the potential to yield reputable rental opportunities for parties, private screenings, and events, all of which would fetch full corporate prices. By inviting key collaborators and influencers to test-use and reanimate the site, Ontario Place would garner word-of-mouth praise and earned media attention, two things that cannot be bought and are critical to its short-term commercial success.
With its inspired structures and spectacular waterfront views, Ontario Place begs to be used by a broad set of potential end users. In order 33
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Visible Minorities in Ontario, 2011 South Asian 15% Chinese 10% Non-visible minority 53%
Black 7% Other Visible Minority 15%
1.7% Aboriginal
Filipino West Asian Latin American Southeast Asian Arab Multiple Visible Minorities Other Visible Minorities Korean Japanese
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Demographics & Inclusivity In 1978, almost 50% of visitors were between 13 and 24 years old, and 85% of visitors were under 40. 75% of visitors visited as a part of a group of friends; only 25% of visitors attended as a family. *”Ontario Place Revitalization: Minister’s Advisory Panel Report.” July 2012. 10.
Toronto is home to 230 different nationalities. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, 51% of the city’s residents were born outside of Canada. The GTA accounted for 72% of total Ontario population growth between 2006 and 2011 and has more than twice the proportion of recent immigrants as Canada (8.4% compared to 3.5% nationally). Toronto has been heralded the most culturally diverse city in the world, making Ontario, by extension, one of the most diverse regions on the planet. An early promotional brochure proclaimed “Ontario Place [to be] a mirror to show you yourself. Your heritage. Your land. Your work. Your creativity. And your tomorrow.” For Ontario Place to be an accurate reflection of today’s Ontario and service its demographic makeup, its vision and programming must foreground inclusivity. The site can become a meeting place for communities and a platform for the exchange and promotion of diverse people’s ideas, food, and culture. Ontario’s Indigenous peoples, for example, still enjoy very little meaningful cultural visibility. Ontario Place could consult
and partner with the Indigenous Place Makers Council and the Anishinabe to determine appropriate programming that would respond to the community’s interests and needs. The median age of Ontario’s population is 40.4; Toronto’s is slightly lower at 39.2. The largest growing segment of Ontario’s population is seniors. Many people remember Ontario Place with fond nostalgia. It will be important, however, to capture the imaginations of new generations—millennials and parents with young children—who will be creating memories and sustaining attendance into the future.
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CREATIVE VISIONING Vision 38 Old Map 40 New Map 42 Passive & Active Solutions 44 Passive Solutions 46 Active Solutions 48 Site Strategy 50 The Spine 52 The Pavilion 54 The Commons 62 The Pods 68 The Cinesphere 80 The Wild 94 The Waterfront 104 Business Case 116 Programming 118 Calendar Matrix 120 37
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We propose to reactivate Ontario Place as an all-season waterfront destination for experiencing and sharing the latest in music, culture, ideas, and sport. It will be an inclusive meeting place, a flexible platform for creativity and innovation, and a lakeside setting for special events and activities. 39
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perone quired
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Martin Goodman Trail
Exhibition Plac Newfoundland Dr .
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Old Map LEGEND
Canadian Family Play All Summer Pass, Toronto Star Play All Day PassÂŽ upgrades & attraction tickets available here! ATM
Baby Care Stations
Designated Smoking Areas
First Aid Station
Gift Shop Locations
Lockers
Payphones
Public Access Defibrillators
Washrooms
FREE Waterfront Shuttle
Watershuttle (starts June)
Wheelchair Accessible Parking
Riders must be accompanied by a competent chaperone where required . Riders must be able to independently maintain an upright seated position .
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Live
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New Map
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Passive & Active Solutions: Accessibility For All The key to Ontario Place’s revival lies in a clever combination of passive and active strategies. Revitalizing the passive strategies entails improving the site’s permeability to the city, trails and circulation, landscaping, and legibility of its pathway systems. The passive strategies are currently disjointed due to fencing as well as a lack of wayfinding and porous connections within the site. They are also disconnected from the two main arteries, Lakeshore Boulevard and the Martin Goodman Trail, that would serve to reunite Ontario Place with the rest of the city. Ontario Place is rich in imaginative heritage architecture and tremendous vistas onto Lake Ontario. There is no need to build more buildings. Our reactivation strategy hinges on activating what
already exists and doing some light demo and landscaping to open up and refresh the site. Citizens and operators are increasingly craving found space—access to unpolished, vintage venues in unexpected places that are versatile platforms for flexible programming. We propose to do some housekeeping— cleaning, gutting, upgrading, retrofitting—to create found destination spaces with adequate infrastructure to support events, fairs, festivals, and exhibits. The partial closure of Ontario Place has ultimately created an opportunity: It is a blank canvas for reinvention. The long-term success and sustainability of Ontario Place will hinge on foundational strategies that will paint a more approachable and intelligible site plan so that Ontario Place once again becomes accessible to all. 45
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An open, legible series of connections and loops that facilitates free as well as ticketed access for the public.
Martin Good
man Trail (E
xisting)
e Th ine
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The Spine
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Passive Solutions oo
Martin G
isting)
rail (Ex dman T
The Sp i
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Ontario Place is an embarrassment of architectural riches. We propose small and surgical moves that upgrade the entrance pavilion, retrofit certain heritage structures, and enhance waterfront access.
The Pavilion Waterscap e
The Commons The Silos
The Pods
The Lookout The Cinesphere
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Active Solutions
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The combination of passive site access with the reactivation of specific structures and areas will catalyze new programming and lead to selfsustaining operations. To CNE Grounds & additional parking
Martin Go
odman Tra
Ontario Pla
il (Existing
)
Lakeshore Boulevard
ce West Ch
The Pavilion
annel
Parking Lot
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3 North Marina
The Commons
The Wild
The Waterfront
The Pods
The Cinesphere
Marina
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Publicly accessible entrance connects to parking lot and Martin Goodman Trail.
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Site Strategy Martin
ting)
(Exis an Trail
Goodm
LIve Nation Entrance (out of scope)
1 2
Brigantine Cove
LIve Nation (out of scope)
East Park
(under construction)
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Precedents: Glow-in-the-dark path
Precedents: Iconic path treatment
Precedents: Painted asphalt
PATHS
The Spine - Option 1
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The Spine The new spine promotes accessibility and legibility through graphic wayfinding, which will also render Ontario Place recognizable from the sky.
The Spine - Option 2
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The current entrance to Ontario Place is obscure, uninviting, and hard to navigate. We propose to give the site a clear and welcoming address and identity.
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The Pavilion
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The Pavilion - Existing 56
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The Pavilion - Proposed (Option 1) 58
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The Pavilion - Proposed (Option 2) 60
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This multi-purpose public square requires a basic clean-up, a graphic treatment with new paint to reanimate the metabolist hexagonal structures, and a light demo to improve infrastructure for events and festivals.
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The Commons
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The Commons - Existing 64
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65
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The Commons - Proposed 66
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These masterpieces of modern hightech architecture are among Ontario Place’s greatest assets for revenue generation. Gutting, retrofitting, and cleaning up the Pods would turn these avant-garde structures into the hottest found spaces for rent in all of Toronto.
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The Pods
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Pods Interior - Proposed (Gallery) 70
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Pods Interior - Proposed (Maker Festival) 72
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Pod Rooftop - Existing 74
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75
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Pod Rooftop - Proposed 76
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77
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Pod Rooftop - Proposed 78
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An iconic piece of mid-century utopian architecture, the Cinesphere’s IMAX legacy can be leveraged to reinaugurate the theatre as a hub for film, culture, and dialogue.
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The Cinesphere
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Cinesphere - Existing 82
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83
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Cinesphere - Proposed (Daily Operation) 84
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85
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Cinesphere - Proposed (Special Event) 86
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Cinesphere Bridge - Existing 88
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89
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Cinesphere Bridge - Proposed (Daily Operation) 90
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Cinesphere Bridge - Proposed (Special Event) 92
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The concrete silos are situated in a unique forested area with beautiful views of Lake Ontario. Cleaning up the landscape to allow the public to reexperience the silos as found spaces with new potential uses can yield tremendous value.
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The Wild
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The Wild - Existing 96
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97
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The Wild - Proposed 98
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99
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The Wild - Proposed 100
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101
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The Wild - Proposed 102
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When Ontario Place opened, Lake Ontario was unswimmable. Today, people ferry to Toronto’s islands in droves to jump in the water. Creating a unique opportunity for people to enjoy and use the lake right at the foot of the city will invariably reenergize the site. Never mind the fact that Ontario Place has the best sunset views in the harbour.
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The Waterfront
N
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The Waterfront - Past 106
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107
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The Waterfront - Existing 108
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109
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The Waterscape - Proposed 110
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111
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The Beach - Existing 112
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The Beach - Proposed 114
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ABOVE & BEYOND
Do Nothing
TIPPING POINT: CATALYZATION
X
$15M
REVENUE
EXPENDITURE
$20M
$10M
0 $5M
1 -$2M UNDER-PERFORMING ASSET ASSET UNDER-PERFORMING
$5-9M:
Basic passive site strategy (i.e., paths, wayfinding, planting, beaches, bike lanes), refreshing Bridge 10 interior, entry pavilion cleaned up, 1 exterior climbing wall on 1 Silo, minimal site furniture, 1 Pod • The Spine: paths, wayfinding, planting, retrofitted, bathrooms, basic site demo, and bike lanes,cleanup including a connection to for events.
$5-9M
• •
• •
East Island (i.e., basic passive site strategy) The Pavilion: updated and enhanced The Commons: plaza & market areas upgraded, bathrooms, basic site demo, and cleanup The Wild: 1 silo + surrounding area cleaned up The Waterfront: lookout, jetty, beaches, minimal site furniture
PERFORMING ASSET PERFORMING ASSET
$9-14M: Basic passive site strategy (i.e., paths, wayfinding, planting, beaches, bike lanes), refreshing Bridge 10 interior, entry pavilion cleaned up, 1 exterior climbing $9-14M wall on 1 Silo, minimal site furniture, 1 Pod • gutted, The Spine: paths, bathrooms, basic wayfinding, site demo, and planting, bike for lanes, including a cleanup events. + Cinesphere, 1 additional Pod retrofitted, connection to East Island (i.e., Pod rooftops/HVAC, bikestrategy), lanes extended basic passive site through east island, furnishings, additional additional landscaping landscaping, waterscape, climbing walls on • 2 The updated Silos,Pavilion: Pavilion updated and enhanced, . saunas, event infrastructure for commons and enhanced, Bridge 10 • •
•
•
•
improvements The Cinesphere: updated and enhanced The Pods: 1-2 pods gutted and cleaned with minor upgrades, 1-2 pods rooftop event spaces The Commons: plaza & market areas upgraded, bathrooms, basic site demo, and cleanup, furnishings The Wild: 2 silo + surrounding area cleaned up with climbing walls The Waterfront: lookout, jetty, beaches, additional furnishings, 1-2 saunas, the Waterscape
HIGH-PERFORMING ASSET HIGH-PERFORMING $14-20M: Basic site strategy (i.e., ASSET
paths, wayfinding, planting, beaches, bike lanes), refreshing Bridge 10 interior, bathrooms, entry pavilion, minimal site $14-20M furniture 1 pod gutted, basic site demo, • and The Spine: paths,Cinesphere, wayfinding, cleanup for events, 2 planting, bike retrofitted, lanes, including a additional Pods Pod rooftops/HVAC, bike lanesIsland extended connection to East (i.e., through east island, furnishings, additionbasic passive site strategy), al landscaping, waterscape, climbing additional landscaping, and wall, entry updated and enhanced, event lighting for commons, 1 sauna, infrastructure • +1 The Pavilion: additional Pod updated retrofitted, marina amenities, indoor climbing and outdoor and enhanced, Bridge 10 ice climbing wall improvements
• The Cinesphere: updated and enhanced • The Pods: 3+ pods gutted and cleaned with minor upgrades, 3+ pod rooftop event spaces • The Commons: plaza & market areas upgraded, bathrooms, basic site demo, and cleanup, furnishings, and lighting • The Wild: 2 silos + surrounding area cleaned up with climbing walls, including outdoor ice climbing • The Waterfront: lookout, jetty, beaches, additional furnishings, 1-2 saunas, marina amenities, water taxi stop
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Business Case PARTISANS has worked hand-in-glove with Janet Rosenberg & Studio, PRISM Project Managers, and Hanscomb Consulting to produce a Class D budget as well as business projections for revenue. Our team’s analysis of the existing opportunities and challenges suggests that the minimum spend to catalyze the site in a meaningful, revenue-generating way sits between 11-14M.
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ch
r Ma
il
y Ma
r Ap
e
n Ju
SPRING
J
uly
st
u ug
A
Se
er
mb
e pt
r
m ve
r
be
m ce
No
O
SUMMER
r
be
be
cto
ry
a nu
Ja
De
FALL
ar
u br
y
Fe
WINTER
MARINA TIFF EVENT BOOKINGS
A
FALL MARKET
FOOD EVENTS + FESTIVALS
HOLIDAY MARKET
B
ROCK CLIMBING
ICE CLIMBING
SKIING
C
BEACH
SAUNA
D WATERSCAPE
A. INCUBATION & CULTURE: The Pods / The Cinesphere - events - marina - arts space
Proposed activities for immediate implimentation
B. EVENTS: The Commons - markets - events - picnicking
C. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: The Wild - rock climbing - ice climbing - cross country skiing - picnicking - bonfires - playground
D. WATER & WELLNESS: The Waterfront - swimming - beach hangout - waterscape - sauna - lookout - canoeing / kayaking
Proposed activities for future implimentation
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Programming
Temporary continuous programming will be critical to keeping Ontario Place activated, relevant, and evergreen. We propose a phasing of different activities for immediate and future implementation.
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The current activity schedule for Ontario Place features sporadic special events throughout the summer driven by space rentals. Our proposal offers a significantly expanded series of events and activities that run year-round. Existing Activity Schedule WINTER
SPECIAL EVENTS
JAN
FEB
SPRING MAR
APR
SUMMER MAY
JUN
JUL
FALL AUG
SEP
OCT
WINTER NOV
DEC
FOOD LIVE NATION FITNESS CULTURE
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Calendar Matrix Potential Activity Schedule WINTER JAN
FEB
SPRING MAR
APR
SUMMER MAY
JUN
JUL
FALL AUG
SEP
OCT
WINTER NOV
DEC
THE WILD
PASSIVE
THE COMMONS
SPECIAL EVENTS
F&B LIVE NATION FITNESS CULTURE HAWKER MARKET FESTIVAL SPACE PARK/ RECREATION BIKING WINTER ACTIVITIES CLIMBING
THE WATERFRONT
CUTLURE + INCUBATOR
ICE CLIMBING CINESPHERE PODS / INTERIOR PODS/ ROOFTOP
BEACH SAUNA
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PARTISANS BIOS Alex Josephson B.A.S., M.Arch PARTISANS Co-Founder Alex studied art and architecture at the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo and the University of Rome where he also worked in the offices of Massimilliano Fuksas. In 2010, he left the Architecture Association School (AA) in London, England to co-found PARTISANS in Toronto. He is the only Canadian to ever receive the New York Prize Fellowship at the Van Alen Institute in New York, and was named a Globe and Mail Catalyst for architecture and design in 2013. Alex is a lecturer at the Daniels School of Architecture at the University of Toronto.
Pooya Baktash B.Arch, M.Arch PARTISANS Co-Founder Pooya studied architecture at the University of Azad in Tehran, Iran and worked at renowned architecture firm EBA (recipient of the prestigious Aga Khan Award). He moved to Canada in 2007 and pursued his M.Arch at the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo. In 2011, he co-founded PARTISANS where he leads a highly creative and technologically agile design team in the implementation of cutting-edge software and material exploration. He has a record of
achievement on all scales of projects, including the visioning and design of the Union Station Revitalization Project in Toronto.
Jonathan Friedman OAA, MRAIC, AIA Intl Assoc., LEED GA, M.Arch, BES PARTISANS, Partner Jonathan studied architecture at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture where he was the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal for his graduate work. He has worked in the offices of numerous architects, including HOK where he was a project architect working on major civic buildings. Born and raised in South Africa, Jonathan has lived and traveled extensively around the world. He is a licensed architect in Ontario and member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Nicola Spunt, PhD PARTISANS, Director of Content & Culture
called Table Talks that features artists and thought leaders working at the intersection of creativity and politics. As Director of Content & Culture for PARTISANS, Nicola oversees creative visioning, content development, programming, and cultural and media strategies for the emerging architecture and design studio.
Michael Bootsma B.A.S., M.Arch PARTISANS, Project Manager Michael studied at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, where he received several awards. Michael has worked in Canada and internationally on projects including the National Gallery of England and the Bluecoat Chambers at Liverpool. Currently, Michael is Project and BIM Manager for the interior fit-out of Union Station.
Nicola is a producer, writer, host, and awardwinning literary scholar. After completing a PhD in English, she began producing film, television, and arts and culture events and founded After School, a speaker series devoted to arts, culture, and city-building. She has published articles in the Oxford Literary Review, the Henry James Review, and Hazlitt, and currently moderates a North American-wide talk series for Soho House
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JANET ROSENBERG & STUDIO BIOS Janet Rosenberg FCSLA, AALA, AAPQ, BCSLA, OALA, FASLA, IFLA, RCA Founding Principal For over thirty years Janet has been involved in the design and implementation of public and private realm landscapes throughout Ontario and across Canada. Among her many pursuits, Janet is a founding member of the Toronto Tree Foundation, a member of the Stewardship Council for The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and most recently she has joined the Steering Committee for Parks People in Toronto. As an engaged team leader, Janet fosters and mentors talent within the Studio. As a speaker and leader across North America, she inspires and shapes the profession. Her work with various organizations and design panels has imprinted a design aesthetic and passion for landscape architecture in communities across Canada. In honour of her contributions to the field of landscape architecture, Janet has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Ryerson University. She has also received a prestigious Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban
Institute, the OALA’s Pinnacle Award for Landscape Architectural Excellence, and the Governor General of Canada Confederation Medal.
Glenn Herman BLA, OALA, CSLA Principal & Director of Design
This year she was awarded an American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) award for her thesis project on wildfires in Australia, and was awarded the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Student Award of Merit. Her interests include digital and material fabrication, small scale interventions and evidence based landscape design.
Highly creative and experienced, Glenn has helped Janet Rosenberg & Studio earn an international reputation along with numerous awards since 1988. His designs are known for being innovative, iconic, and thought-provoking. Glenn works closely with Janet Rosenberg on all of the firm’s projects, taking inspiration from art and nature to enhance people’s experience and appreciation of outdoor gardens and urban spaces.
Jordon Duke MLA Project Manager Jordan successfully completed her Master of Landscape Architecture degree at the University of Toronto in 2016, complementing her studies in urban design at the University of Waterloo. She has participated in several cultural exhibitions across Ontario and Quebec including the prestigious 2015 International Jardin de Métis Festival, the 2015 Grow Op: The Culture of Landscape exhibition and the Doors Open Rendering Toronto’s Landscape exhibition.
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+
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