Faculty of Design

Environmental Design

Derek Cariglia

For Award Considerations 2023

"Why can't life between buildings be exceptional?" In a word, pragmatism. This is news to absolutely no one - But the thought stays with me as I take my daily walks through the heart of the downtown core in Toronto, looking up at the menacing glass facades, and concrete that surrounds me.There exists a plaza that is tucked away on the North-East corner of one of the busiest intersections of Toronto; Adelaide Courtyard. It resides on some of the most valuable land in Canada and yet, just North-East of Yonge and King, and even during the peak hours of the work day, it is a lifeless void that stretched up around me, save the occasional smoker or commuter passing through."Why can't life between buildings be exceptional?" I thought as I ate my sandwich in silence, among the cluttered remnants of past design, with only the distant, weathered security guard as a companion.The site itself suffers from multiple shortcomings: A lack of coherent plan with a scattered program elements between a bar, two fast food restaurants surrounded by heritage, historical office buildings.A lack of direct sunlight and mediocre illumination at night, creating a non-interactive atmosphere.A lack of critical use, by the public and even by the employees within the surrounding office buildings.I aim to change this, and create a breath, however brief of pause and wonderment, amidst all the lifeless glass facades.

“My thesis aims to re-imagine Adelaide courtyard into a contemplative and extraordinary space with 3 distinct goals:Freeing the site from prior programmatic shortcomings while creating free flowing, PATH accessible and useable spacesRe-introducing a historical, Toronto specific typological material in the form of brick.Expressing day light and nighttime illumination as a beautiful and practical addition to the courtyard”