Jury comment:
“The University of Toronto Daniels Building and landscape at One Spadina Crescent grapples with a challenging but glorious site. The landmark roadway circle and heritage building were inherently disconnected from adjacent streets and the University of Toronto campus, but remained a highly visible and historically significant site in the city. The designers have ingeniously exploited these constraints delivering an iconic landscape and building expansion that serves as a significant anchor to the University campus and, playing up its 360 degrees of exposure, addresses the public around the circle. To the south, the original building stands proud above new tall grasses. To the east and west, entrance plazas serve to connect to adjacent neighbourhoods, and to the north, a planted amphitheatre forms a dramatic space for outdoor events and lounging.
In particular, the jury applauds the striking and experimental landscape design which is bold enough to make a statement in this space of non-stop traffic. Sloping planted landforms and a wild plant palette challenge expectations of more mundane campus landscape design and offer great diversity in a relatively small area. It serves as a marker of design experimentation – an important indication of the activities within the building’s walls.”
More information on the Toronto Urban Design Awards Program can be found HERE.
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