Upcoming Events

Opened in 1971, Ontario Place was an innovative and unprecedented project seeking to revitalize Toronto’s waterfront by creating a large urban park on a previously neglected segment of the shoreline. This multi award-winning project consists of 90 acres of man-made islands and lagoons, with the centerpiece of the complex being the five exhibition pavilions suspended high above the water and the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre – the Cinesphere. Ontario Place is part of Toronto’s history and a testament to a vision about its future – so the question now is, how do we continue to build upon this site’s remarkable legacy and ensure its vitality for future generations?

As advocates of the urban environment and in response to the Ontario government announcement of a new Expression of Interest seeking development concepts for Ontario Place, the Toronto Society of Architects invites you to explore the future of Ontario Place through a one-day public design charrette!

The charrette – an interactive design workshop – is intended to encourage creative thinking, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and community involvement prior to the release of the new Expression of Interest and everyone is welcomed to participate! So whether you are a design veteran, an emerging practitioner, or a concerned citizen, we hope you join us as we explore the future of this remarkable site!

Schedule

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Registration
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Introduction & Presentations
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Break
11:15 AM – 3:15 PM | Group Formation & Charrette! *
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM | Break
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Group Presentations & Jury Comments

*Working lunch will be provided to attendees

OAA MEMBERS: This event is eliglible for 6 Structured ConEd Hours. When registering, please include your full name as registered with the OAA to ensure your certificate of participation is credited properly. Please also include an email address you check frequently to ensure you receive our certificate in a timely manner.

PRESS INQUIRIES: For further information and for press inquiries contact: Joel Leon, Executive Administrator – tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca

FAQs

What is a design charrette?

A charrette is what architects call a collaborative design workshop in which a group of people representing a wide variety of stakeholders work together to draft solutions to a design problem. They are a way to quickly generate design proposals while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. Think about it like a brainstorming session but with a lot more drawings and mini-models!

I am not an architect; can I still participate?

Yes, of course! We welcome everyone to be part of this charrette and you don’t need to know how to design to be part of this event! Each group will be carefully selected to bring together a mix of design professionals, students and the general public so all skills will be present in your group!

Do I need a group to enter?

Not at all! Each participant should register individually. The organizer (that’d be the TSA) will then use the submitted information to make the teams, ensuring a mix of design professionals, students and the general public.

Can I participate for half a day?

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the charrette, it isn’t possible to participate for only half a day. If you just want to observe, please send us a quick note at tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca and we will let you know when is the best time to drop by!