The Ford government-sponsored redevelopment of Ontario Place, already mired in controversy over the privatization of a culturally significant public land, took another dramatic turn this week after plans were announced to move the Ontario Science Center to Ontario Place and to prepare the listed building for demolition and redevelopment.
The announcement was met with a flurry of condemnation from the public on social media, and a number of organizations have echoed those views, including the Architecture Conservancy of Ontario (ACO), which formally entered the talks on Thursday and sent a letter to the government wrote from Ontario, urging them to reconsider their plan.
The Ontario Science Center Entrance Pavilion at Don Mills, image courtesy of Bob Krawczyk (ACO)
“While a satellite expansion of the center could be explored, moving all programming out of this building puts both the building and surrounding neighborhoods at risk,” reads the letter, signed by ACO President Stephanie Mah. “We believe that through management, care and community collaboration, additional housing and new amenities can be provided elsewhere on this site and in the surrounding area while the Ontario Science Center building is restored and maintained as a vibrant cultural center in North York can be .”
One of the key factors behind the case to protect the Science Center building is its cultural heritage value, preserving the legacy of a significant era of modern architecture in Canada.
Designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, the building was completed in 1969 and is a world-renowned example of the Brutalist style, enjoying a uniquely harmonious relationship with its forested canyon. Located on the edge of the Don Valley, southwest of the intersection of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road, the building consists of three distinct structures positioned at different elevations along the hillside.
Early sketch of the full Ontario Science Center design, image courtesy of Moriyama Teshima Architects
The dominant motif, a highly textured surface of roughly molded concrete arranged in a narrow vertical rib configuration, creates a distinct visual theme that transitions from exterior to interior; the geometric aggregation, comprising circular, triangular and square volumes, reflects the vision of a modernist era that aspired to create the future in the present; and as a whole, the massive concrete structure activates different areas of the site to augment rather than disrupt the natural surroundings.
Vertical ribs of roughly formed concrete appear throughout the design, image courtesy of Moriyama Teshima Architects
Perhaps more important than the building’s architectural significance, however, is its role in the local community. The Science Center has been an institution serving the communities of Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park for over 50 years and one that has been instrumental in providing educational programs for the area’s large youth population.
In this way, the Science Center’s relocation would represent the removal of a respected cultural center – which plays a place-forming role – from a community that has historically been underserved in this city. Furthermore, the government has failed to make this plan transparent and has overlooked the need for consultation with the community, which has the most to lose from this plan.
The building is a space-creating cultural center in the communities of Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, image courtesy of Moriyama Teshima Architects
Finally, it is also important to consider the environmental impact of such an endeavor. Constructed primarily of concrete, the science center represents a significant amount of embedded carbon, and at 54 years old, the structure is far from the end of its useful life. Yes, the building has fallen into disrepair due to lack of maintenance, but tearing it down would be an irresponsible decision if the carbon-intensive materials could be preserved and at least included in a redevelopment of the site.
The ACO joins the Toronto Society of Architects and Moriyama Teshima Architects on the list of groups that have sent letters to the Ontario government urging them to reconsider their plan. With Toronto’s mayoral candidates expressing mixed opinions on the issue, the future of the Science Center and Ontario Place has quickly taken on immense weight in Toronto’s upcoming by-election. Further information on the details of the government’s justification for the resettlement plan is still pending; in the meantime, the full ACO letter can be read online here.
The building is designed to thrive in the forested canyon environment of its site, image courtesy of Moriyama Teshima Architects
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more from our database file linked below. If you wish, you can join the discussion in the dedicated project forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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