Agora - Theatre

In the spring of 2007, Plant Architect Inc. won the international competition to redesign the iconic Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall, in joint venture with Perkins+Will Canada. For this project, the team drew inspiration from the two main spaces of Athenian democracy: the Agora and the Theatre. Agora/Theatre includes a series of newly built and planted elements including a Theatre Terrace, Restaurant, Peace Garden, Skate Pavilion, and Bike and Visitor Kiosk. The stage is reconceived as a permanent public landscape, acting as a stair and terrace, connecting the walkways to the Square and serving both as bleachers for small performances and as a stage for larger ones. The project consists also of renovations to existing elements including updated and reconnected Elevated Walkways, and the new Podium Roof Garden - the first completed transformation in the Agora/Theatre scheme (see also on MIMOA).