The Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto is the largest courthouse in Ontario, bringing together several existing court facilities within a single state-of-the-art complex in Toronto’s downtown core.
Ministry of the Attorney General
Challenge
The challenge was to consolidate a wide range of court functions within a highly secure and complex facility while strengthening its relationship to the surrounding urban context. The design also needed to balance robustness, security, transparency, and accessibility within a dense downtown site.
Solution
As part of the EllisDon Infrastructure Team, we partnered with Renzo Piano Building Workshop to design a 17-storey courthouse, including courtrooms, conference settlement rooms, and secure in-custody transport and prisoner holding facilities designed to provincial standards. A 20-metre-high glazed atrium creates a strong civic presence while seamlessly integrating security screening into the arrival experience.
Outcome
The result is a modern, barrier-free environment that achieved LEED Gold certification and received Gold Accessibility Certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation. Archaeological discoveries and elements of the site’s history are integrated into the public realm, while a two-story landscaped courtyard and photovoltaic canopy contribute to a sustainable civic destination.
A 20-metre-high glazed atrium extends the public realm into the building, strengthening its relationship to Toronto's downtown civic precinct
Designed to support a spectrum of judicial services, the courthouse includes 63 courtrooms and dedicated specialty courts for mental health, youth, and drug-related matters.
