The Central Waterfront extends 3.5 km along Lake Ontario and in direct proximity to the downtown business district. It is one of Toronto’s most valuable assets, yet, despite decades of planning and patchwork development projects, there was no coherent vision for linking the pieces into a greater whole – visually or physically.  In this context, the fundamental objective of the project, which received it main impetus as a international design competition, was to address this deficiency by creating a consistent and legible image for the Central Waterfront, in both architectural and functional terms.

Connectivity between the vitality of the city and the lake and a continuous, publicly accessible waterfront are West 8’s Masterplan priorities.  The plan expresses a vision for the Central Waterfront that brings a sustainable, ecologically productive ‘green foot’ to the rich culture of the metropolis. It suggests a new coherence and continuity along the waterfront, produced by four seemingly simple gestures that create a new ‘Multiple Waterfront’.

The Primary Waterfront – a continuous water’s edge promenade, with a series of pedestrian bridges;  the Secondary Waterfront – a recalibrated Queens Quay Boulevard with a new urban promenade and public spaces at the heads-of-slips; the Floating Waterfront – a series of floating elements that offer new boat moorings and public spaces in relation to the lake, and; the Cultures of the City – connections from Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods towards the waterfront.