Corp Comm Connects

 

Have your say on the future of Old City Hall
A public consultation process was launched Tuesday to collect feedback on potential uses for the landmark building on Queen St.

thestar.com
By Gilbert Ngabo
Nov. 24, 2016

City officials are being urged to think outside the box when it comes to deciding the future of Old City Hall.

A public consultation process launched Tuesday to collect feedback on potential uses for the landmark building on Queen St. Currently home to municipal and provincial courtrooms, the 117-year-old heritage structure will be vacated in 2021.

Some have mused about converting it into a museum, or maybe even a retail mall, but a new report from the Ryerson City Building Institute looks at some more ambitious ideas.

Called “A New Life for Old City Hall,” the report looks at how other cities have transformed historical landmarks into innovative public amenities.

“The key here is to know that there’s no one project that’s going to give us all the answers,” said the report’s co-author Sam Carter-Shamai.

The idea of turning the downtown building into a museum isn’t new, but Carter-Shamai said the place is “too big” to be occupied by only one thing.

“It should be a multi-functional place that allows people to come in and enjoy it and benefit from it at the same time,” he said.

While the report examines how cities from Montreal to Berlin have repurposed older buildings, it also looks at some local success stories, including the Design Exchange museum on Bay St. and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Carter-Shamai said those projects are examples of how to “offer a diversity of programming and still maintain that cultural environment.”

Councillor Janet Davis is among those who don’t want to see Old City Hall turned into a shopping mall or tourist trap.

“This is a people space,” she said. “It should contain spaces that can be used for events and activities, allowing people to celebrate and enjoy the architectural blender of that building.”

The city’s real estate services department is leading the public consultation. For more information, or to have your say on the future of Old City Hall, visit toronto.ca.

How other cities have reimagined old buildings

Montreal: The Canadian Centre for Architecture
This Montreal museum has become a place for visitors and residents alike to engage in contemporary urbanism, hosting public debates, visual installations and even a public bookstore. Its success has been credited with reviving the surrounding neighbourhood.

Berlin: The Senate Department of Urban Development
Originally built in 1904, the headquarters of Berlin’s planning department has been redesigned to showcase the planning process to the public. The ground floor is completely open, and is home to various exhibits, models and other installations that help educate residents and tourists about the city’s development.