New Don — West Donlands, Toronto
3B Urban Design Studio
October 2006
With Jeffrey Cheng, NuRi Lee, Michael Lin, Darcy McNinch, Rob Micacchi, Angie Ng
The current state of the West Donlands is abysmal, despite the fact that two regional expressways and several local transit lines border or traverse the site. However, by reintroducing the urban fabric, and by intensifying the existing transportation infrastructure and encouraging connectivity between them, the West Donlands could become an integral part of the city.
At the center of the project is a canal, reintroducing the Don River into the city, and connecting the green spaces of the proposal to new and existing green spaces outside of the site, notably The Esplanade and Commissoner’s Park. The canal loosely follows the edge of the former Don River Delta, before it was straightened, then diverted - at a right angle - into the Keating Channel. A dam, at the junction between the canal and the river proper, controls flooding and feeds a filtration plant. The canal is central to re-naturalizing the river, as well as encouraging a clean-water initiative throughout the Don Valley (discouraging dumping and pollution, and increasing awareness).
