Like so many of the world’s most prosperous cities, Toronto began along the banks of its waterfront. Initially it functioned as a trading post and strategic military base to improve the colony’s defences from American invasion, and then later evolving rapidly as an industrial port following Confederation.

In time, the movement of goods by marine transportation-related industries gave way to rail, and the City’s waterfront seemed to get left behind. With abandoned ports, vacant lots and contaminated soil, Toronto’s waterfront was in desperate need of regeneration and renewal.

In 2007, a new vision for the waterfront began to take shape. The goal for its first major commercial development, Corus Quay, was to deliver on a new model for ‘City Building’ – meeting the requirements of industry, creating jobs, revitalizing under-utilized land, creating public space and inspiring leadership in environmental stewardship. Corus Quay was to be the signature development and catalyst for the regeneration of Toronto’s waterfront.

Today, the area has become the City’s centre of transformation. Within the last year alone, Torontonians have celebrated the opening of:
• Sugar Beach, Canada’s new public urban beach;
• Sherbourne Common, an all-season recreational park and water treatment facility; and,
• The first building of Toronto’s waterfront revitalization, Corus Quay – a technologically advanced office and broadcast centre.

Sitting at eight stories high and occupying 475,000 square feet of mostly commercial office space, Corus Quay is the new headquarters for Corus Entertainment and the catalyst in bridging the abandoned divide between the downtown core and the water’s edge.

Designed by internationally-acclaimed Diamond and Schmitt Architects, the building’s exterior reflects restraint, minimalism and simplicity in order to showcase the activities within and outside the building. The height allows for unobstructive views of the Lake from surrounding developments. Within the building, views of the Lake and the Toronto Islands and access to natural light are achieved by sixth and eighth floor landscaped terraces and 30-foot-high glass doors, that open the large public gathering space onto the lakeside promenade.

Deemed as one of the City’s smartest buildings, Corus Quay has received a lot of attention since its official opening in September 2010. The building incorporates a number of energy efficient LEED Gold features, such as four green roofs, gray water recycling, advanced building and lighting automation, a five-storey-high bio-filter wall and is predicted to use 64% less water and 33% less energy. Prior to development, approximately 50,000 cubic metres of soil were excavated and removed, and as part of its soil management process, treated and shipped to the Toronto port lands for cleaning and re-use.

The building’s interior architecture is just as impressive. Designed by the award-winning Quadrangle Architects Limited, the functional configuration, vibrant colours and unique furnishings reflect the playful and energetic culture of the tenant. This includes a three-storey human slide, open-concept work area, no floor to ceiling walls, a games area, a screening room and a gallery space featuring rotating exhibits of art created by employees – it all promotes the creative, informal and collaborative atmosphere of Corus Entertainment. Tying it all together is an iconic wave flowing into the terrazzo floor along the walls and down the slide into the atrium.

Given its key waterfront location, significant effort was dedicated to creating a destination for the community through public space and public art. Award-winning UK-based artists Troika, created three art installations accessible to the buildings inhabitants and the public. “Shoal” features 467 independently computer controlled, iridescent, acrylic fish that “liquefy” the ceiling of the public corridor which traverses the building. “Drizzle” uses multiple exterior soffit light fixtures to immerse its visitors in a shower of refracted colour simulating rain drops. “Lightning Bolt” is a 40-foot high installation that hangs over the atrium in a dramatic replication of nature.

The building does an excellent job in engaging its local community through public realm. In addition to having viewing access to each of the three art installations, pedestrians can watch announcers at work 24 hours a day in ground-floor studios broadcasting three of the City’s major radio stations. Visitors to the waterfront can gather in the adjacent park to watch concerts and shows from stages inside the west part of the building and come together at the building’s south waterfront promenade entrance as rolling glass doors open up the five-storey atrium equipped with a television studio, jumbotron, and large reception area. On the eighth floor, a video screening room and entertainment facility overlook the harbour and downtown financial core.

The world-class design of this iconic building has strategically set the tone for the type of development to be demanded from this location. It has brought vibrancy, excitement but also growth and employment to Toronto’s East Bayfront.

In addition to the recently opened Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Common, George Brown College has commenced construction of a new Health Sciences campus for 4,000 students with plans for classrooms overlooking the harbor, roof top terraces, state-of-the-art labs and a strong connection to the water’s edge. In the surrounding area, 12 acres of public land have been purchased by two major private developers, Great Gulf and Hines Interests to develop 2.5 million square feet of mixed residential and commercial uses.

With the completion of Corus Quay not only has the waterfront been reconnected to the City, it demands a new standard for development in the area. This was recently evidenced at the annual REX/NAIOP Awards, where the Corus Quay was awarded the 2010 Commercial Development of the Year.

With the advent of Corus Quay, Toronto and its waterfront begin an exciting new chapter filled with promise and new purpose. This is a success story by all measures – maybe the most significant of which this City has seen in recent times.

Bruce Logan
Communications Committee Co-Chair
Build Toronto Inc.