Connecting downtown to the Port Lands with an active transportation bridge

PUBLISHED: MAY 6, 2024

Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto, in collaboration with Host Nation and Treaty Holder, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, are pleased to announce the selection of WilkinsonEyre's, design concept, Equinox Bridge for the Keating Channel Pedestrian Bridge. The Equinox Bridge is designed by a multi-disciplinary team, including UK-based WilkinsonEyre, local architect Zeidler Architecture and Indigenous consultants Two Row Architect. This selection follows a design competition that attracted submissions from leading local, national, and international firms.

The Equinox Bridge will connect the growing downtown and emerging neighbourhoods like Quayside with new housing and green space on Villiers Island, Toronto’s next waterfront community. The Equinox Bridge will provide a vital connection for thousands of new residents and estimated millions of visitors to a growing network of waterfront destinations and an expanded regional park system along the Don River.

The Equinox Bridge is characterized by a signature S-shaped suspended “arch bridge” connected by a sculptural array of fanning cables. The orientation of the bridge’s curves align with the summer solstice sunset and the winter solstice sunrise. The design team consists of recognized local and international firms, including WilkinsonEyre (design architect), Zeidler Architecture Inc. (local architect), Arup (engineer), Two Row Architect (Indigenous consultant), and PLANT Architect Inc. (landscape architect).

An aerial view of the Equinox Bridge looking southeast. Image credit: WilkinsonEyre

In May 2023 Waterfront Toronto and its partners issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking design and engineering expertise for a bridge that would create a distinctive gateway and accessible active transportation route from downtown to Villiers Island. Thirteen (13) submissions were received from which five (5) Proponents were invited to participate in the design competition stage.
 

As part of the design competition, Waterfront Toronto heard from over 2,000 people through a virtual community consultation. Read more about what we heard in the summary report [PDF].
 

An Evaluation Committee consisting of staff representatives from Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) reviewed the shortlisted submissions, and considered input from technical advisors, a community advisory committee, Indigenous communities and the public. After careful consideration of all the proposals Equinox Bridge was selected.
 

Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto and MCFN thank all the proponent teams for their time, effort, and thoughtfulness with their submissions.
 

“New communities on Toronto’s waterfront will accommodate thousands of homes, new businesses, and residents,” says Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Toronto—Danforth, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “The Keating Channel Pedestrian Bridge will link residents with their communities, integrate nature and wildlife into our surroundings, and honour the relationship of Indigenous peoples with our city and history. Projects like this support an affordable, inclusive and sustainable future for everyone.”

“The new bridge will connect people and communities," says Her Worship Olivia Chow, Mayor of the City of Toronto. "It will create more access for the thousands of families who will live in this area in the future. On behalf of the future residents of these waterfront communities, I want to thank the federal government for their investment in building this critical piece of infrastructure.”

“The Equinox Bridge will provide passage to a new world of wonder and discovery,” said Jack Winberg, Chair of Waterfront Toronto. “It will open up the thousands of new market and affordable homes on ‘Villiers Island’, creating a link just minutes from downtown Toronto to the natural beauty at the Port Lands where visitors and residents alike can find joy in new parks and harmony with the water. Toronto’s waterfront is a showcase for the best of Canada and Equinox Bridge is a welcome addition to our skyline and water’s edge.”

“Honouring the rich Indigenous history of the lands and waters that make up Toronto’s waterfront is essential to the success of this project,” says Ogimaa-Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault “The Equinox Bridge design will represent and celebrate Indigenous history and culture while creating space for dialogue, reconciliation and relationship-building.”
 

“We have developed a beautiful signature bridge design which will provide the Toronto a striking new destination on the waterfront,” said Dominic Bettison, Director, WilkinsonEyre. “As a new gateway, the Equinox Bridge will promote interaction and enjoyment of panoramic views of the city, the island, and the wider lake.”

The Equinox Bridge will connect growing neighbourhoods like Quayside with new housing and green space at the emerging Villiers Island. Image credit: WilkinsonEyre

As is the practice with all our projects, we will now work with the chosen team to advance the competition design to the 30% design milestone. This includes reflecting on what was heard from the public and working with City of Toronto and other stakeholders to better understand the design opportunities and constraints, the implementation strategy, and more detailed costing.
 

Further feedback from the Waterfront Design Review Panel, Accessibility Advisory Committee and the public will be sought as the design advances.
 

Read the news release [LINK].
 

Download the renderings [LINK]. Image credit: WilkinsonEyre

The Keating Channel Pedestrian Bridge is funded in part by the Government of Canada [LINK].