Project Category: Community

The Toronto District School Board’s brief for this project identified the need for a new double gymnasium facility to replace the school’s existing facilities, which were undersized and outdated. The renovation scope included a new library, six new classrooms, a main office, a staff room, and the replacement of an existing roof.

Our new addition to house the gymnasium uses materials and colours that complement and integrate with the existing school building. Large windows introduce ample natural light while also enhancing safety by providing clear sightlines between the interior and exterior. Inside, wood-slatted acoustic ceilings create a warm and natural aesthetic while ensuring good sound quality for active use.

We transformed the school’s original — and now decommissioned — gymnasium into a bright and open library. The design reimagines the volume and introduces sculpted ceilings that create bold, expressive geometries. One area is a canted volume, and the other is a barrel vault that frames a new center for knowledge, inspiration, and community. We introduced new openings and glazing to allow daylight to filter in, thereby animating the interior and fostering an engaging atmosphere.

The reconfigured east wing of the school accommodates six new classrooms along with various instructional spaces. Designed for flexibility and future-ready learning, these environments are tailored to support a range of pedagogical approaches, integrating natural light, acoustic performance, and spatial efficiency.

We also introduced new sprinkler lines and a fire alarm system, upgraded the solid waste management system, undertook a Siporex roof replacement, and pursued an archeological assessment. 

With evidence of pre-contact settlements, we collaborated with archaeologists to involve Indigenous community members whose traditional territories may have originally encompassed the area. Our engagement began with a Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment, which was shared with Indigenous representatives for their insight and feedback.

Bortolotto undertook the design of a new child care centre within the Western North York Community Centre, a groundbreaking 77,000-sf facility designed by our colleagues at MJMA that earned the designation of Canada’s first “Aquatic-Based Net-Zero Energy Building.” We designed a 5-play room child care centre to accommodate preschool, toddler, and infant age groups, complemented by thoughtfully planned outdoor play areas. The process was a collaborative effort with child care operators, ensuring the spaces align with their specific needs. Each room was purposefully crafted to support distinct programmatic functions, including play, learning, rest, dining, and administration, while maintaining clear sightlines for optimal supervision.

The design emphasizes a strong connection to nature, incorporating expansive glass windows that frame views of the sky and lushly landscaped surroundings. Outdoor play areas include gardens and sandpits that foster exploration, sensory engagement, and active play. We applied child-friendly proportions to fixtures, furniture, and features, such as windows and sinks, ensuring accessibility and comfort for young children. Safety was also a significant priority, with secure entrances, monitoring systems, and controlled access areas integrated into the design. Additionally, sound-absorbing materials were used to mitigate noise, creating a serene and supportive learning environment. 

Featuring a new double-height public entrance, our proposed 10,000-sf addition to École secondaire catholique de La Vérendrye will house a new gymnasium, a full-size stage, staff offices, storage rooms, fitness rooms, and a large gender-neutral change room that includes individual washrooms, change rooms, and showers to serve both the new and existing gymnasiums.

The addition’s exterior design blends seamlessly with the building’s existing character while also introducing a contemporary aesthetic that complements the interior space. The massing strives to reimagine the conventional box-shaped gymnasium appearance. Our use of decorative concrete blocks and continuous metal cladding for the roof, fascia, and soffits enhance both functionality and visual appeal.

Our scheme introduces new windows at grade to bring in natural light and animate a more isolated area of the school property, thereby enhancing security via improved visibility, connecting inside and out. New glazing high up along the gymnasium wall will flood the interior with daylight and feature mechanical blinds that can be used to control brightness in the space.