Line 5 Eglinton creates a new east-west light rail transit (LRT) connection across Midtown Toronto, combining 25 stations or stops to support the continued growth of Toronto, ON.
Cedarvale Station: 236,289 SF (21,952 SM)
Mount Pleasant Station: 101,116 SF (9,394 SM)
Challenge
Designing for one of Canada’s largest transit infrastructure projects required balancing complex interchange requirements with passenger circulation and constrained urban sites. Each station needed to respond to its specific context, accommodating existing and future transit connections.
Solution
We were one of four architectural consultants on the Design, Build, Finance, Maintain (DBFM) delivery, designing three fully accessible below-grade stations. Caledonia Station features a platform approximately 22 metres below grade, with an integrated bus loop and provisions for future regional transit connections. Mount Pleasant Station includes two entrances, one located within a nearly century-old landmark building whose façade was reconstructed during construction, as well as street-level retail. Cedarvale Station serves as an underground interchange with dual entrances to accommodate high passenger volumes and bicycle parking, supporting multimodal travel.
Outcome
The completed stations provide seamless connections between light rail, subway, bus, cycling, and future regional transit services while improving accessibility for all users. As part of Line 5 Eglinton, they support a more connected and efficient transportation network across Toronto.
Line 5 Eglinton stretches 19 kilometres across Toronto, creating a new east-west transit connection through some of the city’s most densely populated communities.
Mount Pleasant station entrance was integrated into a nearly century-old landmark building, with its façade reconstructed from hundreds of catalogued panels
The multi-billion dollar Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is a dedicated transit line stretching almost 12 miles (19 kilometers), providing a new east to west link across the most populated areas of Toronto, ON. Half the line is underground, serviced by 13 stations, and the remaining track is above ground, serviced by 12 stations. NORR (via CTS) was engaged for architectural services as one of four architectural consultants on the Design, Build, Finance, Maintain (DBFM) delivery. NORR’s scope included the design of three fully accessible below grade stations: Caledonia Station, Mount Pleasant Station, and Cedarvale Station.
Caledonia Station provides access to existing subway lines and to Light Rail Vehicles via a platform level located at approximately 22 meters below grade. At street level, the station entrances were designed to provide interchange connection to buses via an integrated bus loop at one entrance of the station — and the potential for a three track two platform interchange to Toronto’s GO Transit, a regional service, at a later date.
At Mount Pleasant Station, there are two entrances; one of the entrances extends through the exterior of a nearly century-old landmark building where its facade was reconstructed from hundreds of meticulously catalogued panels that were stored off-site during the below grade construction. The station features retail at street level and on-street connections to TTC buses.
Cedarvale Station is an underground interchange station that connects to existing subway lines. To accommodate for the expected high volume at this interchange, the design features two entrances, one on the east side and one on the west. Secure bike parking is an important commuter component at this station.
