Looks like new images have been released for the science centre.

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Final designs for Ontario Place

Explore the final designs that will transform Ontario Place into a family-friendly, world-class destination.
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I don't have pictures of it, but a week ago I drove by and noticed they built a dirt land bridge across the water channel between Lake Shore and the western tip of the peninsula. Around here:
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I assume that's temporary? Is the environmental impact considered when doing these infills?
 
Full Metal Junkie said:
I don't have pictures of it, but a week ago I drove by and noticed they built a dirt land bridge across the water channel between Lake Shore and the western tip of the peninsula. Around here:
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I assume that's temporary? Is the environmental impact considered when doing these infills?
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It is because they are diverting a sewer pipe. The City were NOT happy. SEE; https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-place-sewage-redevelopment-9.7020323
 
Yeesh, thats ugly. It looks like a monsterous vehicle showroom, or a giant MEC that took very loose inspiration from the Sydney Opera House.

I guess the only good thing about it is its supposedly white, and can try and blend in with the Cinesphere.
 
GenerationLee said:
Yeesh, thats ugly. It looks like a monsterous vehicle showroom, or a giant MEC that took very loose inspiration from the Sydney Opera House.

I guess the only good thing about it is its supposedly white, and can try and blend in with the Cinesphere.
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Honestly, for a billion dollars, we should be able to build our own Sydney Opera House. I'm fine with this, I trust HP and Snohetta to get the experience right and I'm relieved it at least fits in with Ontario Place unlike Therme, but for a billion dollars with a B, surely we can do better.

I hope that this is just a starting point and that conversations with the community will start so it can be made better. Integration of Ontario Place into the mainland is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The bridge attempts to bring harmony into the collection of buildings — and I think it does — but the main building, with its curvy windows fails at providing an architectural marvel in the way Zeidler's Ontario Place did. Take inspiration from the village:

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I envision a mainland building of a series of these scaled up to 4 stories tall, with a mix of white tile and glass cladding and timber interiors. This would fit right in with a nod to Eb Zeidler's work. Note that this is what they've planned on the island:
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I'm thinking of a cluster of these to form a building with the mass provided for the Science Centre in the first rendering.
 
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It's kind of puzzling that a foreign architect is even involved in this project. Isn't Ontario Place supposed to be a sort of exposition of Ontario culture and design inspired by Expo 67?

Ontario Place should be a place for Ontario designers, regardless of cultural background, to push the design envelope. Sure, you can let the midcentury concept of an exposition evolve into something new, but don't forget it entirely in favour of whatever is flashy at a particular point in time, e.g. exotic spas and contemporary Norwegian design.
 
junctionist said:
It's kind of puzzling that a foreign architect is even involved in this project. Isn't Ontario Place supposed to be a sort of exposition of Ontario culture and design inspired by Expo 67?

Ontario Place should be a place for Ontario designers, regardless of cultural background, to push the design envelope. Sure, you can let the midcentury concept of an exposition evolve into something new, but don't forget it entirely in favour of whatever is flashy at a particular point in time, e.g. exotic spas and contemporary Norwegian design.
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Also foreign construction companies.
 
ChesterCopperpot said:
Did you miss the part that Hariri Pontarini are part of the design team?
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Ontario architects are almost always retained when a foreign firm does a project in Ontario. The foreign firm often does design work but is usually not licenced in Ontario. Thus, it pair ups with a local firm who is licenced here to meet legal requirements.

As a matter of practicality, this practice also helps the foreign firm achieve Ontario code compliance because the local firm will advise it. However, key design work is most certainly being done by foreigners. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be involved.
 
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OP always had an internationalist draw to it...not sure why tapping the world at large for design takes would be an issue here. And besides as mentioned, lots of Ontarians are involved in this one too.
 
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