Collective Circulation
Traversing Sheppard with multi-layered urbanism.
Fall 2023
Instructor: Roberto Damiani
In partnership with: Yoon Chai, Ashish Gangwar
Instructor: Roberto Damiani
In partnership with: Yoon Chai, Ashish Gangwar
This studio centered around integrating architects, landscape architects and urban designers to build a cohesive urban vision for strategic sites in Toronto. As architects, we were tasked with implementing the large-scale urban plan set by our urban design colleagues on a specific site.
The site is Agincourt GO station, and the larger urban design strategy was to connect the series of parks and community spaces in the area.
Increasing site porosity and enhancing non-vehicular user experience became key driving factors in the design.
The program for four podium towers was designed using Metrolinx TOC’s (Transit Oriented Communities) as precedent, while keeping in mind Toronto’s need for affordable housing.
The site is Agincourt GO station, and the larger urban design strategy was to connect the series of parks and community spaces in the area.
Increasing site porosity and enhancing non-vehicular user experience became key driving factors in the design.
The program for four podium towers was designed using Metrolinx TOC’s (Transit Oriented Communities) as precedent, while keeping in mind Toronto’s need for affordable housing.
site analysis
site map
Being a GO station, the rail line provided a challenge to site access, but also provided a key opportunity to link adjacent parks and neighbourhoods.
Through a compilation of GIS data, orthoimages, and photography from site visits, we diagrammed the built conditions surrounding the site.
Through a compilation of GIS data, orthoimages, and photography from site visits, we diagrammed the built conditions surrounding the site.
street frontage analysis
Analysis of roads and hardscaping, street frontage, and adjacent conditions helped us identify that fencing, rail tracks, and site elevation form a barrier to site access.
These factors, combined with the traffic underpass, created a hostile pedestrian and cyclist environment.
These factors, combined with the traffic underpass, created a hostile pedestrian and cyclist environment.
site adjacencies
site strategy
To tackle issues with site porosity, an elevated rail deck strategy was implemented to bridge across Sheppard Ave. and connect nearby Collingwood Park and the West Highland Creek. Four podium towers were erected to service residents and transit passengers, with tower height and density decreasing towards the inside of the block.
tower program
Program
for the four podium towers were designed using Metrolinx TOC’s
(Transit
Oriented Communities) as precedent,
while keeping in mind Toronto’s
need for
affordable housing.
Commercial podiums service the residents and commuters, while providing separation of the residential units above from railway noise.
Market rate housing (orange) is
located higher in the towers to
attract higher rent and offset
affordable unit costs.
Family units (yellow) include a
two-door entryway that splits into a main and sub-unit for multigenerational
families.
Student units (green) serve as
an intermediary between the
podium and other residential units above.
Commercial podiums service the residents and commuters, while providing separation of the residential units above from railway noise.
Market rate housing (orange) is
located higher in the towers to
attract higher rent and offset
affordable unit costs.
Family units (yellow) include a
two-door entryway that splits into a main and sub-unit for multigenerational
families.
Student units (green) serve as
an intermediary between the
podium and other residential units above.
