Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1511965
60 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto RPBW states that a 20-metre-tall atrium enclosed by a transparent glazed facade "creates an immediate and strong image which extends the public realm into the building, as well as expressing the public nature of the courthouse within the city." Above the podium, a clearly leg- ible cubic volume houses the majority of courtrooms and associated ser- vices. "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, gener- ating a dynamic and immaterial play of constantly changing reflections and shadows," RPBW states. McConachie says, "Several stud- ies needed to be undertaken to ensure sufficient infrastructure provisions exist for the purpose of the court- house. We also worked with the municipality to re-zone the site for additional height and density needed for a high-rise courthouse." Prior to EllisDon Design Build Inc. breaking ground on the proj- ect in 2018, IO undertook a complex archaeological excavation that uncov- ered thousands of artifacts from when the site was part of St. John's Ward, one of Toronto's earliest immigrant settlements. The work ensured that the historical value of the site was doc- umented and preserved, with some heritage elements forming a perma- nent atrium display. As for the onset of COVID, McConachie notes that, "When things ground to a halt during the pandemic, construction on projects like this, deemed essential, continued." EllisDon achieved substantial com- pletion on January 31 of this year; EllisDon Facilities Services, in part- nership with SNC-Lavalin (which were involved through the design development, construction, and commissioning) now operates and maintains the building. While the completed facility is a striking architectural addition to downtown Toronto, Attorney General Doug Downey reminded media when the province announced the opening of the courthouse that, "The con- solidation of resources will permit centralized criminal case manage- ment, a greater concentration of expertise, and the effective and effi- cient scheduling of judges, justices of the peace, Crown attorneys, court staff, duty counsel, and interpreters to support the timely processing of crim- inal matters." A P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y I N F R A S T RU C T U R E O N TA R I O +VG Architects congratulates Infrastructure Ontario on the completion of the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto. We are proud to have been part of the EllisDon design team with Renzo Piano Building Workshop and NORR Architects. THE DOOR HARDWARE & SECURITY EXPERTS TRILLIUM ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS www.trillium.group | info@trillium.group 1-888-858-5866 Hardware Schedules | Electronic Access Control | Doors, Frames & Hardware Automatic Door Operators | Supply & Installation | Locksmith Service Proud to work with EllisDon on the Ontario Court of Justice Toronto