The revitalization of Toronto’s central waterfront continues with the recent completion of Canada Square, transforming a former surface parking lot into an iconic public space at Harbourfront Centre. A newly constructed 300-stall underground parking garage now lies beneath the square, which covers one-third of the site and helps create a vibrant link to other waterfront attractions.

“Canada Square demonstrates how beautiful new public space and investments in infrastructure go hand-in-hand in building a great waterfront,” says John Campbell, president and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “Moving parking underground has allowed us to give this important waterfront site back to the people.”

More than 40 redwood trees are part of the landscape architects’ (from Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates Inc.) vision of incorporating nature. Meanwhile, James Carpenter’s distinctive art installation ties the streetscape to the new infrastructure below via a three-storey glass and mylar curtain wall that rises 10 metres from the underground base of the garage through an aperture to Ontario Square above.

The revitalization of Harbourfront Centre’s site is part of plans to upgrade and rejuvenate the most heavily used and developed part of Toronto’s waterfront. Construction is well underway on the transformation of Queens Quay, which will create a vibrant waterfront district by linking major destinations, including Harbourfront Centre, Queens Quay Terminal, HTO Park and the Toronto Music Garden.