Thorncliffe Park Community Centre

THORNCLIFFE PARK, TORONTO | 4th Year Undergraduate Option Studio
Site Strategy Partner: Andrew Sit | Critic: Vis Sankrithi

Project Overview

    The Thorncliffe Park Community Centre project began as an introduction to tower-renewal principles and urban design solutions to an “in need” community in Toronto’s East end. Extensive community interaction occurred over the course of 3 round-table meetings including a mid-design and final exhibition. From the 1st community meeting onward it became apparent that the community had been incorrectly branded by its low income housing and immigrant population. Thorncliffe Park is a vibrant place with a large variety of community initiatives and cultural programs. Problems did exist in Thorncliffe, Primarily a lack of communication between building ownership/policy makers and the community residents. Other problems included a lack of safe pedestrian circulation, a centralized spatial focus, a crucial need for usable activity space, and a health-certified community kitchen. Through interaction with the community, it became readily apparent that a new community centre was needed in Thorncliffe.

Site Development Strategy

Development Phasing
1 > add housing diversity and increase density 
2> move residents to new buildings
3> demolish 53 thorncliffe park drive
4> create new pedestrian thoroughfare and activity zone

Design Concept

     The Centre’s design revolves around the Forum, an allusion to the classical Roman Forum or Greek Agora, which combined the social, cultural, political, education and commercial aspects of community life and sat at the centre of town life. The Forum in Thorncliffe would do the same by acting as a centre of discussion along with providing a community kitchen and cafe, classrooms, lounge, drop-in daycare, exercise centre, prayer room, flex-space and space for the Thorncliffe     Neighbourhood Office. By creating green roof connections over the existing parking structures and a new pedestrian mall, the Centre was designed as a manifestation of the spatial and cultural centre of Thorncliffe Park within R.V. Burgess Park. Although community members were overjoyed with the proposal, the reality limits of architectural school became frustratingly clear.