Yonge–Dundas Square
yonge–dundas square dundas square public square southeast corner intersection yonge street dundas street east downtown toronto ontario canada designed brown storey architect square conceived part revitalizing intersection since completion square hosted many public event performance art display establishing prominent landmark toronto one city prime tourist attraction central downtown yonge entertainment shopping district square owned city first public square canada maintained public–private partnership intersection one busiest canada people crossing city first pedestrian scramble daily surrounding square major landmark including toronto eaton centre ed mirvish theatre citytv building square accessible toronto subway dundas station connected path toronto underground pedestrian walkway square continuously illuminated large billboard screen corporate logo led comparison square time square new york city shibuya crossing tokyo piccadilly circus london part yonge street regeneration project toronto city council approved expropriation demolition building site construction yonge–dundas square square joint project city resident mcgill granby association downtown yonge business resident association downtown yonge business improvement area association local business effort conceived spearheaded arron barberian barberians steak house robert sniderman senator restaurant councillor kyle rae ron soskolne retained head planning regeneration project went become chair board management first decade square operation designed brown storey architect square intended new public space toronto somewhat akin nathan phillips square designed viljo revell new city hall square design received award excellence significant building design stage canadian architect magazine recognition outstanding example contemporary architecture next year architecture magazine commended square new form urban space great presence push limit invention originality unlike nathan phillips square however yonge–dundas square operated separate board management site owned city administered board management board management yonge–dundas square established first public–private partnership canada operate public square square wifi hotspot set wireless toronto voted best city claim intersection busiest canada million people passing annually square development cited modeling new york time square tokyo shibuya district london piccadilly circus manage volume pedestrian pedestrian scramble installed august square frequently serf venue public event connected city cultural festival including nxne toronto international film festival luminato nuit blanche pride week june square hosted official closing ceremony worldpride square property city toronto regulated toronto municipal code chapter public square regulation govern activity square use property april smoking prohibited entire property square wake george floyd race protest social unrest controversy arose namesake dundas street henry dundas st viscount melville whose amendment wilberforces abolitionist parliamentary motion ensured support required house common house lord british empire ultimately vote abolish slavery slave trade act dundas first tabled petition parliament resident edinburgh supported abolition however although affirmed wilberforces motion principle argued vote immediate abolition slave trade would unlikely pas house common lord instead added amendment wilberforces antislavery bill uk parliament calling gradual abolishment unlike wilberforces previous bill pas first house common vote end slave trade dundas tabled resolution planned implement abolition caution ignored vote bill also failed win necessary support house lord ultimately wasnt successful passing house slave trade act dundas approach vindicated toronto city council voted rename dundas street civic asset named dundas yonge–dundas square new name chosen april however took december city council approve new name sankofa square ghanaian term referring act reflecting reclaiming teaching past appropriated akan people historically involved slave trading citing cost toronto ultimately decided keep dundas name street rename yonge–dundas square dundas dundas west subway station site bordered north dundas street east victoria street west yonge street south street named dundas square dundas street east–west street extended east downtown toronto near original eastern terminus near ossington avenue connecting several preexisting street west agnes street met yonge street tintersection present dundas street intersection east wilton street terminated yonge approximately metre south early th century dundas extended east agnesyonge street intersection meet wilton street victoria street building link east southeast interline wilton creating present dundas street cut section wilton yonge victoria renamed dundas square square slight incline architect brown storey said intended evoke theatrical stage made modular raised square textured inch mm granite slab slab costing approximately material plus labour feature diagonally running zinc canopy along northern hypotenuse square movable plinth serf stage concert performance row lighted fountain set directly pavement row small tree along southern edge transparent canopy plinth new entrance dundas subway station series low circular stone planter added western side square summer square squareshaped irregular pentagon angled northeastern side square known hypotenuse feature structure supported round concrete pillar creates industrial urban aesthetic north cast shadow rest space three side square ie right angle one another yonge dundas street well dundas square street form square southern boundary running yonge victoria street surface yonge–dundas square level sloped upward away yonge street allow enough height provide clearance toronto parking authority garage entrance architect planned slope surface make interesting accommodate necessary clearance lie underneath level p house washroom changerooms green room stage performer various utility room custodial supply closet water treatment plant pump room fountain southeast southwest corner yonge–dundas square drinking water fountain water fountain southwest corner nearest yonge street known large cool stream water flow fountain drain ground stream produced fountain warmer flow less copiously hand fountain nearest yonge street also near protrusion ground become popular seat fountain centrepiece square array fountain designed dan euser waterarchitecture two row ten fountain spread across square main walkway visitor opportunity walk around fountain unlike many city fountain dundas square fountain meant waterplay include sophisticated filtration system according architect keep water pool quality water according euser water treated maintain health standard waterplay according facility administrator christine maclean granite chosen entire space nonslip property safety running playing fountain water fountain consists stainless steel grille ground nozzle arranged three row entire rock surface dark almost black colour effectively absorbs sunlight thus creating warm surface rest water run dark rock slab thus heated fountain water solar heated three curved lighting mast along south edge square made hollow structural steel highgloss white finish contrast rough nonslip texture black granite support six mercury vapour arc lamp create evening light come approximately direction natural sunlight day ie various southerly direction fountain comprise dynamic art installation water sculpture water jet programmed vary dynamically time fountain usually operate hour day aquatic play area front ontario science centre centrepiece teluscape dundas square toronto hour waterplay area open day night except special event maintenance exception fountain usually run around midapril end october making one two aquatic play area toronto open early season close late season reduce cost middle channel middle nozzle fountain animated outer two channel still globally controlled outer two channel often used set background pedestal level middle channel animates typically eightsecond interval directionality imposed middle channel sequencer encourages bather run west rather east moreover sequencer make bathing experience optimal jogger run west exactly kmh architect brown storey fountain creator dan euser firm initiated bidding former councillor kyle rae management dundas square confirmed waterplay one intended us space fountain intended appeal child adult evidence realized many people drink ground spray nozzle people even fill water bottle ground spray since waterplay one intended us water tested daily toronto health department water treated bromine many bather prefer chlorine three separate water treatment facility one group ten westmost nozzle grille nozzle total another middle row ten grille third eastmost nozzle water run grille travel west raised floor dundas square slab treatment facility west end waterplay area yonge–dundas square located within downtown yonge business improvement area bia project area include redevelopment eaton centre construction new retail cinema complex north called tenor formerly dundas east toronto life square originally metropolis development project opening dundas street east southeast corner victoria dundas used home olympic spirit toronto october rogers medium announced would buy building new home citytv omni television station new studio space operational medium tower – scaffold billboard operated branded city – constructed northwest corner yonge dundas advertised tallest medium tower world another large medium tower complete video screen major feature rogers medium building southeast corner dundas square video screen usually show citytv broadcast building home hard rock cafe shopper drug mart southwest corner square originally feature series billboard replaced large video screen introduction imposing medium tower screen brightly illuminated advertising billboard great sacrifice area resident feel loss neighbourhood identity character see controversy redevelopment eaton centre building victoria dundas completed toronto life square formerly known metropolis development began january city toronto expropriated number property phased opening began renamed dundas east toronto life magazine parent company st joseph communication sued magazine name removed building existing smaller screen two billboard replaced massive curved video display corner building facing yonge dundas criticism range suggestion city missed opportunity green space within downtown core missed opportunity critic consider interesting architectural element question true intent behind ostensibly public square toronto public space committee organizer toronto iteration reclaim street phenomenon often point square example consider negative trend urban planning square surrounded side gigantic commercial billboard redevelopment scheme modeled new york city time square london piccadilly circus many pointed square prime example creeping privatization public space making point bolstered fact square board populated local business resident board management square abc organization city toronto permit fee commercial event community group use square free square community use policy event charged back staffing equipment use shibuya crossing tokyo time square new york city albert campbell square mel lastman square nathan phillips square pecaut square list city square official website yonge–dundas square description brown storey architect website dundas square gallery transmedia urban screen art project dundas square