Three schematic conceptual designs for Rouge National Urban Park?s visitor, learning and community centre have been released to the public.

Designed by Moriyama & Teshima Architects, in partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River-based Two Row Architect, the concepts feature an aesthetically and environmentally progressive, universally accessible building with visitor amenities that include indoor and outdoor multi-purpose gathering spaces, and a viewing platform.

This new, net-zero carbon facility will serve as the park?s primary learning and orientation facility where visitors, students, and residents can gather and learn about the Rouge?s heritage, as well as Parks Canada?s network of protected areas from coast to coast to coast. The Learning and Community Centre is envisioned as a highly collaborative, fully accessible learning hub that will serve as a gateway to this important, all-season destination in Toronto.
The Gateway will be perched above the nearby junction of the Rouge River and Little Rouge Creek and is expected to be made of mass timber, or a hybrid of mass timber with other structural materials.

Materiality will be an important element throughout the Centre, with highly naturalized spaces, connection with the park through all of the senses, and a focus on wellness with a purposeful indoor/ outdoor connection. The design of the three concepts all advocate for the intersection of human, nature, and the urban environment, with special consid...