Ontario Court of Justice
The New Toronto Courthouse situated in Toronto’s downtown core, just steps from Nathan Phillips Square and Toronto City Hall, will become a key element of the downtown civic precinct. The new state of the art facility will consolidate several existing facilities, thus modernizing the administration of justice for Torontonians and the Province of Ontario. At an urban level, the goal of the project is to create coherence and connection to the cultural heritage and natural features of the city.
A Transparent Courthouse with a 20m Atrium
Lasting over a year, the collaborative design process conducted between Paris and Toronto has produced a strong architectural vision for the site by maximizing exterior public space, improving the streetscape on Centre Avenue and Chestnut Street and strengthening the links and relationship between the courthouse and the city.
A 20m tall atrium enclosed by a highly transparent glazed facade creates an immediate and strong image which will extend the public realm into the building, as well as expressing the public nature of the courthouse within the city. Above the podium, a clearly legible cubic volume houses courtrooms and associated services. This volume floats above the highly glazed lower levels but retains an image of lightness due to the facade design composed of layers of glass and embossed metallic back pans, generating a dynamic and immaterial play of constantly changing reflections and shadows.
An architecture of dignity for diversity and reconciliation
The building projects a clear and dignified expression of its function and role in an iconic whole that does not impose itself merely with authority but reflects the diversity and ideals of society, producing a modern, open, accessible, and transparent image of the administration of justice.
The OCJ includes XX courtrooms including special courts for drug treatment, youth, high security, Gladu (indigenous) courtrooms, and mental health. The building also integrates an Indigenous Learning Center, an important space on the ground floor adjacent to the main atrium that will be used to engage and develop the relationship between Indigenous People and the institution as well as to educate the public at large. It is the first of its kind in Canada and was included in the program as a response to the Calls to Action established by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Placing the courthouse in the city
On center of the south facade, an architectural mast creates a link to the East portico of Osgoode Hall which was originally defined by the architects John Ewart and William Baldwin in 1832 as the terminating vista looking North on York Street. In this manner, the OCJ gives sense to this vista and gives form to the Judicial precinct that began to take shape some 180 years ago.
Project Details
Status
Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects in collaboration with NORR Architects & Engineers (Toronto)
Design Team
Competition, 2016-2017 Design team: A.Belvedere (partner in charge), N.Aureau, A.Greig, A.Karcher, A.Landeiro, B.Plattner (partner) with D.Franceschin, S.George, J.Irace, A.Nizza, M.Pimmel and L.Antonio, G.De Juan; A.Bagatella, D.Tsagkaropoulos (CGI); O.Aubert, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos (models)
Design Development, 2017-2023 Design team: A.Belvedere, A.Greig (partner and associate in charge), F.Hebel, A.Landeiro, W.Scheske with A.Chaaya (partner), T.Ohira, M.Pimmel, D.Rat, I.Soto, J.Vella and T.Borges; A.Bagatella, T.Garofalo, D.Tsagkaropoulos (CGI); O.Aubert, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos (models)
Consultants
Stephenson Engineering Ltd. (structure); The Hidi Group (mechanical); MBII (electrical); Knippers Helbig (façade); BVDA Group Ltd. (building envelope); HH Angus (vertical transportation); Sight N Sounds Design Inc. (A/V consultant); WalterFedy (civil/site engineering); Morrison Hershfield (energy & sustainability); Theakston Environmental (micro climate consultant); Valcoustics (acoustics); Tranplan Associates (traffic); Thornton Thomasetti (blast consultant); Amec Foster Wheeler (geotech); +VG Architects (heritage consultant); Two Row Architect (indigenous consultant); Muniak Enterprises (code consultant); Frontier (signage, wayfinding); Vertechs (landscaping)
