Nathan Phillips Square
nathan phillips square urban plaza toronto ontario canada form forecourt toronto city hall new city hall intersection queen street west bay street named nathan phillips mayor toronto square designed city hall architect viljo revell landscape architect richard strong opened square site concert art display weekly farmer market winter festival light public event including demonstration winter month reflecting pool converted ice rink ice skating square attracts estimated million visitor yearly area hectare acre canada largest city square nathan phillips square used regularly art exhibit concert rally ceremony annual event include new year eve party cavalcade light festival lighting official christmas tree annual nuit blanche art festival set art exhibit square also utilized parking garage located underneath square square rectangular shape edge city hall meeting square angle north side main portion square paved two size reinforced concrete slab square reflecting pool peace garden permanent stage several sculpture including three way piece archer henry moore around remaining perimeter square run elevated concrete walkway outside walkway treed lawn dotted various memorial monument oscar nemons statue sir winston churchill c roman column beneath square one world largest underground parking garage illuminated disappearing fountain installed among slab used decoration cooling square property city toronto smoking prohibited entire square elevated concrete walkway connects podium city hall height roof extends around perimeter square staircase connect walkway floor square several location south side walkway extends across queen street sheraton hotel west side walkway connected back permanent stage also serf grand staircase walkway closed winter month peace garden created memorial atomic bombing hiroshima well commitment torontonians principle world peace sundial south end garden predates peace memorial inscribed word appreciation opportunity serve originally installed designed gr johnson consultation hh rogers john c parkin presented nathan phillips resident toronto fifteen year later city sesquicentennial prime minister canada pierre trudeau turned first sod peace garden sit immediately north also incorporate preexisting sundial sq ft garden consists pavilion fountain surrounding planting gazebo stoneclad cube arched opening side capped pitched roof one corner structure deconstructed signify conflict fragility civilization fountain pool encroaches removed corner eternal flame placed water appear though support pavilion structure symbolize hope regeneration pope john paul ii lit flame ember peace flame hiroshima poured pool water river flow nagasaki entire monument formally dedicated elizabeth ii queen canada october part redesign square peace garden moved centre square western edge reflecting pool situated southeast corner square spanning reflecting pool three concrete arch originally architectural feature support rink lighting dedicated freedom arch commemorate fought obtain defend freedom time piece berlin wall placed southern base central arch west reflecting pool pavilion food available ice skate available rental winter month pool used ice skating area currently occupied square part ward major immigrant reception area first half twentieth century characterized poverty late early black family settling site followed large wave jewish immigrant eastern europe period leading world war ii immigrant neighbourhood gradually settled developed chinese immigrant toronto first chinatown following world war ii city toronto government prepared construct civic square chinatown bylaw prohibited development except public purpose parking lot voter approval city began acquisition site inside chinatown expropriation demolition various shop restaurant development square procurement land completed design city hall finalized construction commenced south side queen street opposite city hall considered commercial slum august toronto city council voted expropriate south side development appropriate new civic square business side street included two burlesque theatre pawn shop cinema south side vacant time city hall opening eventually occupied new hotel connected pedestrian bridge queen street square rink completed feature square officially opened mayor philip given sunday november also first operational part new city hall rushed completion december municipal election dignitary present afternoon former mayor nathan phillips allan lamport rest square city hall formally completed september add decoration square city hall architect viljo revell wanted sculpture british sculptor henry moore selected threeway piece archer cost ca purchase controversial toronto mayor philip given favour purchase objected cost abstract design city council rejected purchase sculpture purchase funded public subscription fund sculpture installed summit series canadian men ice hockey win feted public ceremony hosted mayor ontario premier since square used set number film kidnapping president resident evil apocalypse sentinel khalsa day celebrated annually square day music food design competition launched start october soliciting proposal fortyeight local international firm revitalization square march announced team led plant architect inc shore tilbe irwin partner toronto competition project first estimated cost cad million final cost expected tally million originally intended completed project expected completed design based idea nathan phillips square always acted agora ancient athenian place public political exchange design defining concept open space theatre public square – theatre city square surrounded forested perimeter plan included demolishing replacing food skate rental kiosk along addition upper level roof terrace overlooking square twolevel restaurant southwest corner square outdoor patio terrace dining glass tourist information pavilion queen bay street corner versatile stage structure glazed roof canopy redesigned landscaping along edge square increase number tree planting mixed tree specie expansion enhancement peace garden flowering tree grove eternal flame reflecting pool landscaping café podium roof city hall restaurant bar observation deck level east tower city hall upgrading overhead walkway wood decking seating glass balustrade light well improved access seasonal disappearing water fountain centre square sustainable design element also included conform toronto green standard including soil regeneration strategy improved tree planting condition increased biomass number tree facility cyclist promotion cycling improved pedestrian environment control light pollution energy efficient design renewable energy feature opportunity public education attention onsite microclimate local sourcing material square redesign includes cad million cycle station storage bicycle shower facility cycle station cause minor controversy toronto city council may mayor david miller officially opened first phase revitalization project podium green roof garden hectare acre roof garden includes diverse planting sedum perennial tree central courtyard beneath council chamber public terrace southeast corner roof shaded tree planter bench shade structure designed reveal movement sun metre ft perimeter path act walking running circuit around roof new lighting installed including new highefficiency led floodlight perimeter light band allow evening event take place death federal new democratic party leader jack layton citizen flocked square covered wall pillar statue message written chalk layton family pan american game nathan phillips square one site panamania cultural festival held conjunction game two temporary stage installed platform performance installed part reflecting pool evening game square site musical concert medal celebration firework square also held countdown clock game popup store panam parapanam souvenir large multicoloredilluminated toronto sign also installed square game sign quickly proved popular local tourist alike sign relocated elsewhere end however september announced sign remain square permanently square host venue closing ceremony parapan american game nathan phillips square also venue wheelchair tennis invictus game toronto raptor nba final subsequent parade june toronto culminated nathan phillips square two million people total attendance largest public gathering one place one event canadian history shooting broke portion square four people shot injured list toronto park albert campbell square clarence square maple leaf square mel lastman square pecaut square trinity square toronto victoria memorial square yongedundas square city toronto nathan phillips square nathan phillips square design competition nathan phillips square revitalization design competition brief