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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 45 St. Lawrence Market North R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E S Y C I T Y O F TO RO N TO ST. LAWRENCE MARKET NORTH by NATALIE BRUCKNER F or more than two centuries, the St. Lawrence Market Complex has been a cherished symbol of Toronto's rich history and a thriv- ing hub of commerce, capturing the hearts of both residents and tourists. This iconic structure, which includes St. Lawrence Hall and the North and South Market buildings, has held a unique significance in the city, how- ever, the North Market building had gradually fallen into underutilization, failing to maximize its full potential. The decision to redevelop St. Lawrence Market North was not a sud- den one; rather, it emerged from a commitment to revive this beloved space, preserving its historical signifi- cance while stimulating the economic growth of the surrounding area. "On December 10, 2008, City Council authorized a design com- petition to select an architect for the redevelopment of the North Market. The international design competi- tion resulted in the building's modern design that pays homage to the tradi- tional St. Lawrence Market buildings," explains Siobhan Kukolic, communi- cations advisor at the City of Toronto. "On May 15, 2019, City Council approved the awarding of a contract for the construction of the new St. Lawrence Market North building at 92 Front Street to Buttcon Limited/ The Atlas Corporation Joint Venture. Construction of the new market – which would be a three-phase project – began in July 2019." The redevelopment of St. Lawrence Market North had a multifaceted vision centred on improving utility, preserving historical significance, and fostering economic development. At its core, this vision aimed to celebrate the beloved St. Lawrence Farmers Market by creating a purpose-built facility for year-round operations. The building's purpose extended beyond the Farmers Market. "The building is intended for a variety of additional civic and community uses and will be the centrepiece of a vibrant Market district. On December 10, 2008, City Council endorsed the strategy to redevelop the St. Lawrence Market North property with a multi-storey building, including a ground floor Market Hall, Court Services' court rooms and administrative offices, and a 250-space below-grade parking garage, maximizing this space to meet local community needs," explains Kukolic. The North Market building design by RSHP, with executive architects Adamson Associates Architects, aligns seamlessly with the project's vision and goals, resolving the tension between civic architecture and market archi- tecture by defining the building as a market building with a courthouse above it. This design harmoniously integrates with the heritage character of the market complex and its surround- ings, ensuring historical continuity. "The structure of the building mod- ulates a large space and encourages visitors to travel through the length of the building to the north end to con- nect to the St. Lawrence Hall. It also creates flexible spaces on both the main level and the mezzanine level for use as a performance space or for smaller gatherings. The market floor is also divisible using the column grid and screening systems," says Kukolic. The design successfully connects the North Market, South Market, and Market Hall by opening the market to the streets and public spaces on three sides, an important feature for its users. This creates an indoor street within the market. "The façade is broken into man- ageable proportions and has a simple structural grid. The scale, texture, and context are in keeping with the archi- tecture of the district, including the historical precedents. The original market building on this site had simi- lar proportions to this building making this scheme better suited to the area and to a market building," says Kukolic. The five-storey atrium, serving as a visual centrepiece, seamlessly con- nects the three buildings, improving accessibility and connectivity between them. Additionally, the upgraded loading dock resolves previous incon- veniences related to street-side loading and unloading, benefiting pedestri- ans, vendors, and building users. The inclusion of a 250-space underground parking garage significantly enhances accessibility, addressing the previ- ous lack of dedicated parking for the Market Complex. LOCATION 92 Front Street, Toronto, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER City of Toronto ARCHITECTS RSHP (design architect); Adamson Associates Architects (executive architect); ERA Architects Inc. (heritage architect) GENER AL CONTR ACTORS Buttcon Limited / The Atlas Corporation (Joint Venture) STRUCTUR AL /BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT Entuitive Corporation MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Smith + Andersen Consulting L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Quinn Design Associates Inc. IT/SECURIT Y CONSULTANT Lobo Consulting Services Inc. TOTAL SIZE 228,227 square feet TOTAL COST $118.8 million Mark Butt, CEO, Buttcon Holdings, says of the design: "The overall com- plexity, detail, and integration of the structural and architectural elements make the project stand out. Taking into consideration the use of self-con- solidating concrete tapered columns, architecturally exposed structural steel [AESS] columns, and hidden AESS con- nections through access panels located in the hollow box columns, the grand arches of the double barrel roof, the north end feature stair, embedded stainless markers delineating the loca- tion of the historical sewer water main that all contribute to the uniqueness of the design. The swing-open garage door panels on the east and west sides, and the atriums between the high- level barrel-vaulted ceiling, will give the market an open-air feel when the weekend vendors are on location." The newly redeveloped North Market building also showcases some very distinct features. It surpasses energy efficiency standards by utiliz- ing a geothermal heating and cooling system for enhanced energy savings. Butt adds that utilizing reclaimed stormwater to fill the cooling tower will cool St. Lawrence Market's North and St. Lawrence Hall. Also, green roofs will absorb carbon dioxide, reduce stormwater runoff, make the roof surface 30 to 40 percent cooler, and reduce heat fluctuations from building to building. In any complex redevelopment project, challenges are inevitable, and this project was no different. During the planning phase, an archaeological assessment uncovered significant his- torical remains dating back to the early 19th century, including market walls,

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