Union Station was revitalized to accommodate projected passenger growth while restoring Canada’s most significant Beaux Arts railway station and transforming the landmark into a vibrant transit and retail destination in Toronto, ON.
Challenge
Accommodating projected growth from 60 million passengers annually to 130 million by 2036 required a major expansion within a constrained heritage environment while maintaining uninterrupted transit operations. The project needed to preserve a landmark building that has served as a gateway to Toronto since 1927.
Solution
Our design delivers one of the most technically innovative architecture and engineering solutions implemented in Canada, spanning a full city block. Two new 50,000-square-foot concourses below the existing station flank the central concourse, relieving the physical constraints of the heritage structure. Designed with heritage architect EVOQ, restoration of the Head House and VIA Concourse was completed through a phased approach that maintained transit operations throughout construction.
Outcome
The revitalized station enhances capacity, connectivity, and the passenger experience while preserving an important piece of Canada’s transportation heritage. Together, the expansion and restoration position Union Station to accommodate projected future growth and continue serving as the country’s busiest transportation hub for decades to come. Read the cover story in Canadian Architect.
Spanning nearly one million square feet, the revitalization expands Union Station’s capacity to support growth from 60 million to 130 million passengers annually by 2036.
Beneath an active National Historic Site, two 50,000-square-foot concourses were constructed four metres below grade while transit and rail operations continued uninterrupted.
Photo Credit: doublespace photography
Union Station is the busiest transit hub in Canada. In 2006, the City of Toronto required a revitalization plan to: expand and enhance the multi-modal hub to accommodate the expected growth, from 60 million passengers a year to a projected 130 million passengers by 2036; restore and renovate the National Historic Site, the most important Beaux Arts railway station in Canada; and create a destination, commercial retail hub.
NORR was selected to lead the project and developed the most technically innovative architecture and engineering solution to ever be implemented at this scale in Canada. The expansion work is where it matters the most at four meters below its basement level. Covering one full city block, the Revitalization project is equivalent to one million square feet, from Bay Street to York Street and from Front Street to Maple Leaf Square. The project features two new 50,000 square foot concourses, flanking the existing central concourse, alleviating the physical constraints of the existing heritage envelope.
EVOQ served as heritage architect to NORR responsible for the design of the station’s interior and exterior heritage restoration, including the Head House and Via Concourse. The multidisciplinary teams worked in a phased approach to ensure Metrolinx (Ontario’s regional transit network) and Via Rail (Canada’s passenger train service) operations were maintained and that the connection to the Toronto Transit subway station was uninterrupted during construction.
Union Station opened in 1927. Until the 1970s, the station was the major gateway for immigrants into the City of Toronto changing operation to a local train operation with the inception of GO Transit as the Ontario commuter train system into Toronto which has grown exponentially over the years. The innovative expansion will accommodate the projected 130 million passengers in the future.
Read the cover story in Canadian Architect.
Photo Credit: doublespace photography
