Grange Park Revitalization

Grange Park brings a beautiful feeling of tranquillity to the historic space in which it resides. Next to Toronto’s iconic Art Gallery of Ontario, the park echoes this artistry with its looping, paved promenades, lush green spaces, and inviting play areas. Public engagement is encouraged through these unique spaces and the eye is drawn to different accent points, such as the revitalized Grove: a historic zone of trees, or the flowing water feature that marks the park’s entrance from the AGO. Artistry and playfulness come together in this space to provide downtown Toronto with an imaginative, sustainable space to commune, explore, and delight in.

Purpose

• Restoration and revitalization of the historic Grange Park, adjacent to the AGO in downtown Toronto

Slender Features

• 1:160 thickness to span ratio at stainless steel fountain sculpture

Novel Features

• Shrinkage compensating concrete used to achieve joint free concrete in long feature wall;
• First FRP-encapsulated glulam framing design approved in Toronto (for wavy boardwalk covering stormwater capture area);
• Shallow tree root protection solutions including void-formed bench ‘bridges’ and minimal penetration frost heave accommodating foundations;

Progressive Features

• Revitalization of underutilized existing urban park

Notable Value

• Simple novel solutions to uncommon design problems such as;
• Shallow tree root preservation;
• Sculptural bench fabrication;
• and jointless concrete

Awards

• Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA), Awards of Excellence – Medium Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect – 2019
• Toronto Urban Design Awards, Award of Excellence, Large Places and/or Neighbourhood Designs – 2019

LINKS:
PFS Studio

SHOUT OUTS:
Jennifer Nagai (PFS) – exceptionally collaborative
Sean Reinsma (Blackwell) – project engineer / structural designer / construction administration
Ethan Ghidoni (Blackwell) – helped to resolve the wavy boardwalk framing concept
Greg Sawka (Blackwell) – construction administration

IMAGE CREDITS:
Brett Ryan Studios, Tom Arban