The City of Toronto has launched an international architectural competition to find the best design for a new, vibrant North Building in the iconic St. Lawrence Market Complex. As part of the official kickoff, Mayor David Miller and Councillor Pam McConnell released the Competition Brief - a formal set of submission requirements and site and design criteria for architects vying for the winning design.

(L to R) Alan Seymour, Chair of the North Market Redevelopment Initiative, Mayor David Miller, Bruce Bell, Official Historian of St. Lawrence Market, and Councillor Pam McConnell.

“We’re looking for the best creative minds in architecture to replace the underused, single-storey North Market building with a new four-storey, multi-purpose facility that will be a model for sustainable design, energy efficiency and design excellence,” said Mayor David Miller. “The challenge for architectural teams is to come forward with a forward-thinking design that is also mindful of the character and heritage of the St. Lawrence Market and surrounding neighbourhood.”

The new North Building will continue to host the successful Saturday Farmers’ Market and Sunday Antique Market. Space for court rooms and administrative offices for Toronto Court Services and a 250-space underground parking garage will also be part of the new building.

“The redevelopment of the St. Lawrence North Market Building has been a long time in the making,” said Councillor McConnell.  “This initiative began in 1999 through community advocacy, recognizing the need for a new building that better fit the needs of the vendors, the visitors, and the community.  Over that time, we have consulted with the community, to find the best way to replace this North Market Building with a new one for the 21st century.”

The St. Lawrence Market Complex, consisting of St. Lawrence Hall and the South and North market buildings, has served for over 200 years as the City’s social centre and premier marketplace, and even as a City Hall. The North Building at 92 Front St. E. no longer meets the needs of market vendors, shoppers and the community, due to its lack of building amenities. The strategy to redevelop the North Building property was approved by Toronto City Council in November 2008.

“One of Toronto’s greatest landmarks and long-standing traditions is about to get better,” said Councillor McConnell. “With the South Market consistently ranked as one of the best markets in the world, this design competition for a new North Market building is a major milestone that further enhances the entire St. Lawrence Market Complex as a thriving hub for activity and prosperity. The City of Toronto is inviting all architects to compete with a design that fits the City’s vision for this property.”

The St. Lawrence Market North Building Design Competition is a two-stage process. In stage one, eligible architects are invited to submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ and a qualified team of City staff and a Professional Advisor to the Competition will select a short list of architectural teams to advance to the next stage. In stage two, a jury will evaluate the design submissions developed by the short-listed teams, and the competition will end in June 2010 when a winning design is announced.

The new building is expected to be completed and operating in 2014.

Visit http://www.toronto.ca/stlawrence_market/design for the Competition Brief and more information.

Project Timeline

1999 – St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association begins to publicly advocate the redevelopment of the existing North Market Building

2002 – City Council approves the redevelopment of the St. Lawrence Market North building initiative

2003 – City Council establishes the St. Lawrence North Working Committee to generate planning and development guidelines.  To ensure consultations were extensive and highly inclusive, in addition to City staff and Councillor McConnell and her office, the Working Committee included representatives from:

• St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association
• St. Lawrence Market North Initiative
• South Market Merchants Association
• Sunday Antique Market
• St. Lawrence BIA
• Citizens for the Old Town
• Heritage Toronto

2004 – The Working Committee produce a set of design parameters and a Strategic Vision Statement for the entire St. Lawrence market Complex.  These are adopted by City Council in October 2004.  Click HERE for the Council report.

2008 – City Council approve a strategy to redevelop the North Market property and authorize a design competition.

November 12, 2009 – Issuance of Competition Brief

January 8, 2010 – Stage I Submission deadline

February 2010 – Notification of short-listed teams

April 28, 2010 – Stage  II submission deadline

May 2010 – Public exhibition of design submissions and review by jury members

June 2010 – Announcement of competition winner and report to City Council

Autumn 2010 – Completion of temporary market building at 125 The Esplanade and relocation of Farmers Market and Antique Market

Early 2011 – Construction on the new North Market building begins

2014 – Occupancy of the North Market building

North Market Building in 1904. (Source: City of Toronto Archives)