Gathering – A Gateway to Toronto

A remarkable new landmark named “Gathering” was designed for the City of Toronto. Gathering represents Toronto’s history, diversity, flexibility and strength. Located at the interchange of Dixon Road and Highway 427 near Toronto Pearson International Airport, the site was one of three landmark locations identified by the Clean and Beautiful City Initiative. About 80,000 passengers pass the site every day. Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada’s largest airport and for many people represents the gateway to Canada.

The landmark, entitled “Gathering”, will be a forest of light masts up to 40 metres high that sway gently in the wind and celebrate the entrance to Toronto in a contemporary language. Gathering is comprised of 24 stainless steel and glass-fibre masts. The masts’ cores are flexible glass-fibre pole structures enclosed with segmented, lightweight, stainless steel barrels, decreasing in diameter as they ascend. The design required extensive engineering to ensure the aerodynamics achieved the desired movement.

By day, Gathering will have the appearance of a beautiful grove of sinuous masts swaying in the wind in an inviting manner. At night, the masts are illuminated from within by lights that slowly change colour based on environmental conditions near the site.

Client

City of Toronto

Location

Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario

Services Provided

Project Lead;
Architectural Design;
Urban Design Focused Project Input;
3D Digital Visualization and Urban Information Modeling.

Credits

Mark Sterling – urban design partner in charge Sweeny Sterling Finlayson &Co;
Cicada Design – Visualization Design;
Blackwell Bowick – Structural Engineering;
The Planning Partnership – Landscape Architecture.

Awards

City of Toronto Urban Design Award