WaveDecks

People relaxing on the Simcoe WaveDeck, one of several wooden structures constructed on the Toronto waterfront.

The Toronto Waterfront Wavedecks are a series of wooden structures constructed on the waterfront of Toronto, Ontario, Canada as part of the revitalization of the central waterfront. Waterfront Toronto committed to constructing a series of unique wooden wavedecks along the water's edge for the 3.5 km area running from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street.[1]

The wavedecks are new public spaces that vary in shape, articulation and design to reflect the movement of Lake Ontario. Each is artistic and functional and have proven to be major public attractions along the harbourfront.

History

In June 2006, West 8 and duToit Allsopp Hillier won the Toronto Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition for their entry that included the construction of a series wavedecks along Toronto's waterfront. Each wavedeck is unique and designed to resemble to the contours of Lake Ontario's shoreline and reclaim parts of the shoreline along water's edge south of Queens Quay.[2]

A total of four WaveDecks were constructed, each acting as unique gateways to the waterfront. Once the transformation is complete, WaveDecks will be at the foots of Spadina Avenue, and Rees, Simcoe, and Parliament streets. The Spadina WaveDeck opened in late-summer of 2008, followed by the opening of the Simcoe WaveDeck in June 2009 and the Rees WaveDeck in July, 2009.

Despite each deck having multiple levels separated by steps, they are all wheelchair accessible. The undulations of each level provide for a smooth, stepless path from one end of the deck to the other (going widthwise). These paths are visually marked by yellow metal discs embedded into the decks themselves.

The Spadina WaveDeck won the 2009 Toronto Urban Design Award.

Spadina WaveDeck

43°38′15″N 79°23′30″W / 43.63753°N 79.39164°W / 43.63753; -79.39164 The first WaveDeck was constructed at the Spadina Head of Slip, consisting of a 620 metre squared undulating wood pedestrian deck over water, adjacent to the foot of Spadina Avenue south of Queens Quay Boulevard. Construction started in November 2007 by Somerville contractors and lasted 10 months. The Spadina WaveDeck links two waterfront parks: Music Garden and HTO Park. The WaveDeck cost $4.1 million to build and is made of 3,564 wooden planks.

The Spadina WaveDeck won the 2009 Toronto Urban Design Award[3] of Excellence in the Small Open Space category.[4]

Construction for the Simcoe Wavedeck nearing completion in May 2009.

Simcoe WaveDeck

43°38′20″N 79°23′05″W / 43.63898°N 79.38462°W / 43.63898; -79.38462 The Simcoe WaveDeck opened in June 2009. The artistic design has a dramatic 2.6 metre high curve as well as metal railings to prevent injuries. It is located just west of Simcoe Street at the water's edge and has quickly become a major attraction along the waterfront.[5]

Rees WaveDeck

43°38′19″N 79°23′14″W / 43.63849°N 79.38732°W / 43.63849; -79.38732 Opened in July, 2009.

Parliament WaveDeck

Will be built once the East Bayfront development progresses.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Waterfront Toronto
  2. ↑ West 8
  3. ↑ 2009 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Jury Report
  4. ↑ http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id35508
  5. ↑ Press Release
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