Trinity Square Park
Toronto, Ontario

Trinity Square Park
Trinity Square Park


This urban design project was the award winning entry in a limited design competition conducted by the City of Toronto in 1981. The site is located in Toronto's central downtown bounded by The Eaton Centre and Bell Canada Square. It is in close proximity to Toronto's Old and New City Halls. The design consists of three major public spaces; Trinity Church Square encircles the church, Scadding House and the Old Rectory in a form reminiscent of a Medieval Civic Square; Trinity Square is a large, grassed open space surrounded by double rows of Linden trees offering cloister-like tranquility; Bell Square follows the modern tradition of a plaza fronting an important commercial building.

Unity of composition is achieved by carefully controlling the interaction of major and subsidiary elements. Because of the park's location within an urban block, access routes are of special importance. The main pedestrian entry leads from Bay Street on a symmetrical approach to Trinity Church and is purposefully ceremonial in character. Subsidiary gateways lead through Dundas Mews to the north, the Eaton Centre to the east and St. James Street to the Bell Building's atrium and the south. This project was done as The Thom Partnership Architects & Planners in association with Moorehead Fleming Corban McCarthy landscape Architects. Construction cost, $2.25M., 1983.