Canadian Architect’s most read news posts of 2024

Another year has come and gone and we’re rounding up the top 10 most read news posts of the year.

From the many updates on the beloved Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place to a review of the Well in Toronto, here are the top most-visited news posts of 2024 in order.

10. Amid 865 trees coming down, Province releases 95-year lease with Therme

The highly contested redevelopment of Ontario Place, a waterfront property in downtown Toronto, came to a head this fall with the abrupt demolition of the trees and structures in a large part of the property. The work—which included the removal of every single tree on the western portion of the waterfront site—is part of the approximately $200-million in work that taxpayers are funding to prepare the land for Therme, an Austrian spa company, to develop a stadium-sized indoor waterpark on the site.

9. The Well, Toronto, Ontario: Review by John Lorinc

The Well, a much anticipated and heavily publicized collaboration between RioCan and Allied Properties REIT, opened in Toronto this year. Several design firms were involved in the project, including Hariri Pontarini Architects, Urban Strategies, CCxA, BDP, architects—Alliance, Wallman Architects, and Adamson Associates. Journalist John Lorinc reviewed the complex, and explains its significance for Toronto urbanism.

8. Cost of Ontario Science Centre temporary location exceeds cost of roof repairs

On June 24, 2024, Infrastructure Ontario put out an RFP for a commercial/retail space to house a temporary Science Centre until its planned new facility at Ontario Place is complete. Canadian Architect editor Elsa Lam noted that the temporary location, which would not be open until 2026, would put the Science Centre in a location that was significantly smaller—and likely much more remote—than its current site. She also analyzes how the cost of the temporary location would exceed the cost of making necessary repairs to the existing Moriyama-design Science Centre.

7. Ontario Place project at risk as Canada ignores engagement requirements with Indigenous Peoples

A release issued by the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) stated that it believes that the Federal government has failed to meet Indigenous engagement obligations for the Ontario Place project on Toronto’s waterfront. The release noted that if the Government of Canada fails to fulfill its responsibility to engage and collaborate with Indigenous Peoples, the multi-billion-dollar Ontario Place development project could face significant delays.

6. Ontario Science Centre doesn’t require full closure: A close reading of the engineers’ report

Just after the Ontario Science Centre was abruptly closed, Canadian Architect editor Elsa Lam released a deep dive into Rimkus engineers’ roof report, which was used to justify the closure. Her analysis suggests that the building’s key exhibition areas could continue to operate safely—even if the Ontario government choose not to invest in any structural roof repairs by the fall.

5. McGill University researchers say modern temperature control and ventilation design could be transformed with historic technique

Researchers from McGill University say that by revamping a forgotten heat recovery technique used in the design of Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital, modern temperature control and ventilation design could be transformed.

4. TSA issues open letter on Ontario Science Centre closure

On June 21, 2024, the provincial government announced that the Ontario Science Centre’s landmark 1969 building, by Japanese-Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, would be closed immediately, for an indefinite period of time. Organizations including Canadian Architect, ACO, and the TSA rallied quickly to voice their opposition to the closure.

3. The true cost of repairing the Ontario Science Centre is much, much less than what Infrastructure Ontario has been saying—and the proof is in its own documents

Two figures have been cited by the Ontario Government: $478 million and $369 million. The actual number is much less—around $200 million, or just $24 million for tackling priority repairs to keep the museum open for several years to come, writes Elsa Lam.

2. As Province edges towards demolition of Science Centre, documents point to a manufactured crisis

The documents issued by the government on July 11 point to known issues and minor problems that can be easily resolved, providing further evidence of a manufactured crisis surrounding the closure.

1. Provincial government agrees to pause demolition at Ontario Place

On July 10, 2024, the Ontario government agreed to halt demolition pending the results of Ontario Place Protectors (OPP)’s challenge to the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act on July 19. Unfortunately, after the group’s challenge was unsuccessful, demolition continued. OPP has appealed the ruling.

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