St. George Street Revitalization

This once-grand boulevard is both the main thoroughfare of the University of Toronto and a major City traffic arterial. Street widenings in the 1940s destroyed its original tree canopy, and many of the brownstone mansions that had lined the street were replaced by much larger university buildings in the 1960s.

The re-design of the street demonstrates the possibilities for restoring the balance between pedestrians and cars on city streets. The pavement has been narrowed to expand the public realm, and has been shifted and redefined in its relationship to both traditional and modern buildings.

A generous line of grass verges and boulevards protects three new rows of trees along the length of the street. Two of these are organized as a continuous allée on the eastern, “heritage” side, while the third line organizes the west side of the street. The project transforms the front of Sydney Smith Hall, creating a major new civic space.