Alderwood Centre
CLIENTS:
Toronto District School Board/
City of Toronto/
Toronto Public Library/
Alderwood Action Daycare
LOCATION:
Toronto, Ontario
CONSTRUCTION COST:
$9M
STATUS:
Completed 2000
Four distinct clients partnered to create Alderwood Centre, which includes a new primary school, a combined public/school library, a daycare, and a renovated enclosed swimming pool and fitness centre. The project was conceived as a shared use facility which would reduce capital and operating costs relative to stand alone facilities. It was one of the first projects of this type in Toronto.
The main organizing element is a one and a half storey interior concourse that runs the length of the building. All the key spaces (school, pool, library, and daycare) are accessible from this airy, light-filled hall. Each space is also individually accessible to accommodate disparate scheduling needs.
The exterior façade consists of a series of gentle curves which meld together, providing distinct identities to each of the partners. Interior finishes include natural maple doors and millwork, slate accents, bush-hammered concrete columns, and stainless steel canopy supports.
The project was built on a very modest budget of $110/sf, including site works.