Toronto Waterfront Case Study

Urban Planning

IBI Group practices throughout the Greater Toronto Area for public and private clients in the four areas of its practice. IBI’s market position is illustrated by IBI Group’s activities in the Toronto Waterfront and Central Area. Since its inception in Toronto in 1974, IBI Group has been a leading provider in the research, planning and design of the former transportation and industrial areas between Lake Ontario and Toronto’s Central Business District. The Toronto Waterfront Map located above illustrates the broad range of projects in which IBI has been involved. These projects include the following categories:

Toronto Railway Lands

In the early 1980’s IBI was retained by Canadian National Railway (“CN”) to act as the lead consultant for the planning, design and approvals relating to the transportation of the approximate 200 acres of CN “brown field” lands in downtown Toronto from Union Station to Bathurst Street and from Front Street south to Lakeshore Boulevard / Gardiner Expressway. In addition to its regular professional work, IBI Group played a lead role in the processing of the approvals through official plan amendments, rezoning bylaws, the development agreement and related implementation agreements. The first phase of this redevelopment comprised the Stadium Precinct, ultimately leading to the development of the SkyDome and the adjacent infrastructure.

Following the sale of the lands from CN to Canada Lands Corporation, IBI Group continued its work as urban planners, transportation consultants and architects in the coordination of the implementation of this project. Canada Lands subsequently sold the project to Concord Adex Development Corp. (“Concord Adex”),which has proceeded with a large-scale residential development on the site. IBI Group has continued to date as consultants to Concord Adex and most recently prepared the plan for the Bathurst Spadina neighbourhood located between Spadina Avenue on the east and Bathurst on the west, and the architectural design of the presentation centre for the development. IBI Group’s work in relation to this large development venture has spanned a period in excess of twenty years.

Transportation Corridor

The transportation corridor through the Toronto waterfront comprises:

IBI Group has been involved in the research, planning, design and operations analysis for improvements of this transportation corridor for over two decades on behalf of agencies of the Ontario provincial government, the City of Toronto (formerly for both the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (prior to the amalgamation of its constituent cities and boroughs into the City of Toronto) and the City of Toronto), GO Transit and other operating agencies. The projects in which IBI Group has participated in connection with this corridor include:

Developments in the Central Business District

IBI Group has acted as urban designer for a number of major projects in Toronto’s Central Business District, including Scotia Plaza, the Bay Adelaide Centre, Waterpark Place and the former Canada Post Office site on which the Air Canada Centre was subsequently developed. Typical of this work was IBI Group’s effort on behalf of Campeau Corporation in the urban design and planning of Waterpark Place. IBI Group’s role included physical site planning and design and extended into the approval process, including official plan amendments, rezoning bylaws and development agreements.

Toronto’s Waterfront Projects

IBI Group projects within Toronto’s Waterfront, listed from west to east include:

Representative Projects

Liberty Village Toronto, ON

CityPlace Toronto, ON

Fleet Street Toronto, ON

Queen's QuayToronto, ON