06
INTRO
The Gray Coach Terminal conceptualizes a new life for a disused bus station in downtown Toronto. It envisions a lively market place that embraces the original art deco building and bus bays, converting it into an open air, all-season hub of activity.
The original circulation paths of buses through the terminal are reflected in the new forms above which house community programming and retail areas, creating a palimpsest of the building's past.
DESIGN OBJECTIVES
The material palette of the addition responds to the site's automotive history and expresses raw aluminum and metal formed into forms which borrow from classic bus designs. The terracing of the rooftop community spaces gently gestures towards the original art-deco terminal building, emphasizing its importance and respecting its conservative scale.
COMMUNITY MARKET
The new marketplace utilizes the original bus entries for vendors to unload, and the garage-style doors allow for the market to spill onto the sidewalk in warmer weather. The original stained glass window with ‘Gray Coach’ branding becomes a centerpiece between the old and the new, residing in a lightwell which gives it visibility from the basement up to the roof terrace and spotlights the historical character of the building.
THE OUTCOME
The result of this design intervention is a renewal of the original bus terminal that establishes the site as a community space in a new context. The design quality of the original building does the talking, with the addition acting as a contemporary accessory that reflects the rich history of the terminal.
