VAUGHAN CIVIC CENTRE

VAUGHAN CIVIC CENTRE

While strategizing how to design a new civic centre for this competition entry in Vaughan, Ontario, it became apparent that a master plan was critical in order to organize the many components of this vast site and locate all of the requisite buildings.

Master Plan
With the competition rules requiring the existing civic centre to remain intact until its replacement was built and occupied, a five-part master plan was developed around it:
(1) We embellished Major Mackenzie Drive to become a new boulevard lined with both coniferous and deciduous trees, signaling its importance as a civic street.
(2) To the north, we increased the scale of proposed future buildings along Major Mackenzie Drive with a new mixed-use commercial development, appropriate for such a street.
(3) To the south, we created a pedestrian link starting on the east side of the site, at the historically designated Lord Beaverbrook House, traveling west through the future mixed-use institutional buildings (Cinemateque), through the new civic centre and concluding at the relocated GO Transit station at the site’s western boundary, thus linking all the buildings together in one simple gesture.
(4) We added a large pond south of the civic centre, adding a natural watery focal point for all buildings and adjacent houses to enjoy.
(5) We wrapped the pond with topography and planted trees, added a new five-court bocce ball pavilion as well as a seniors’ residence (Maple Manor Retirement Home), completing the vision for this master plan.

Civic Centre
With good political conduct requiring transparency at every turn, “transparency” became a guiding architectural theme for the civic centre’s design. With that, the building is composed of two adjoining “transparent boxes” of differing height, complete with a specialized curtain wall skin. The curtain wall is made from tightly spaced horizontal maple wood battens set between two layers of glass. This rather unique glass assembly gives the building’s exterior a warm inviting honey colour, while internally the sunlight penetrating through the batten-filled windows is “dappled”, mimicking the effect of rays filtering through a forest canopy on a sunny day. In its finished form, the building would exude a nature-inspired quality, appropriate for this large, picturesque site.

The smaller of the two “glass boxes” contains the multi-purpose “City Room”- an enormous space to be used for indoor public and civic events. Inspired by Vaughan’s slogan, “The City Above Toronto”, we hung the onyx stone and glass-clad council chamber from the City Room’s structural framework high above, creating a dramatic architectural effect. By backlighting the semi-transparent onyx stone of the council chamber, a warm glow would result, signaling to all that council is in session.

Supporting the two “glass boxes” is a textured buff-coloured horizontal brick “base”, that is partially submerged into the site, disguising its enormous mass. The “base” – expressing itself as a long, low brick colonnade complete with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a waterside concrete terrace – sits directly adjacent to the pond. As a result, the natural cooling effect of the pond’s microclimate – nature’s “air conditioning” – can cool the building’s “base” during hot summer days, while providing the perfect backdrop to all its perimeter rooms.

LOCATION: Vaughan, Ontario

ARCHITECT: Adamson Associates Architects

DESIGN LEADERSHIP: Michael Poitras,
Partner-in-Charge of Design (Adamson)

COMPETITION: Second Place

CLIENT: City of Vaughan

STATISTICS:

  • No. of storeys: 6
  • Total floor area (building):
    384,370 ft2 (35,709 m2)
  • Total floor area (base):
    59,740 ft2 (5,550 m2)
  • Below grade parking: 535 stalls
    (including 12 barrier-free)

MATERIALS:

  • Silver curtain wall windows & doors + horizontal maple wood battens set between the glass
  • Textured buff brick
  • Limestone floors
  • Oak wood floors
  • Precast concrete terraces
  • Tile mosaic mural
  • Outdoor landscaping

GENERAL PROGRAM:

  • Council chamber
  • Mayor’s office
  • City Councillors’ offices (8)
  • 3-storey multi-purpose “City Room”
  • Administration offices
  • Art gallery
  • Corporate presentation centre
  • Corporate training centre
  • Food services
  • Staff exercise centre
  • Daycare centre
  • Chapel
  • Resource library
  • Outdoor roof terrace (4th floor)
  • Children’s outdoor terrace
  • Outdoor public space
  • Loading docks: 3

LEED: Silver

COST: Withheld

COMPLETION: Project