Diamond Schmitt Architects has been placed on a shortlist of firms selected to design a new civic centre for Etobicoke, Ont. The firm recently presented its designs for Etobicoke Commons at a public event.
Diamond Schmitt designed Etobicoke Commons to create a civic heart and a destination for the public to engage in various activities such as recreation and learning, to attending to business at municipal offices. The firm’s designs include community amenities of health services, public meeting services, a fitness centre and pool, a library and retail space.
Diamond Schmitt’s design features a low-rise, tiered podium of folding, grass-lined surfaces, a structure that will be home to all of Etobicoke Commons’ major public spaces. The podium surrounds The Green, a landscaped urban oasis at its centre. The design supports two amphitheatres, an elevated Sculpture Walk, terraces for small gatherings, a daycare play area and space for outdoor markets.
“Many civic squares have large expanses of one-dimensional and spatially barren surfaces; in contrast, on offer at Etobicoke Commons is a multitude of dynamic public spaces that support different uses, are of varying sizes, and are adaptable to changing seasons for the public to really use,” said David Dow, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects, in a press release.
The building’s glass façade brings the outside into and throughout the building. Transparency is demonstrated by a glass-lined council chamber that is adaptable for other community uses. The Great Hall is a multi-purpose space that provides access to all activities and services within, while the office tower above features a sequence of stacked atria that contribute to interaction among staff in both formal and informal settings.
The design hopes to achieve Net-Zero through a combination of robust strategies to reduce energy-use intensity and generate on-site energy. A carefully calibrated window-to-wall ratio is supported by photovoltaics in roof and skin, triple-glazing and view dynamic solar control glass.
“Etobicoke Commons is meant as a meeting point and catalyst for increased interaction by the community in a setting people can enjoy and that has enough variety and flexibility to make it their own,” said Dow.
