Concord Canada House

Vertically and horizontally, the residents of high-rise buildings in high-density districts often live at some distance from green space. But when podium-level landscapes in these buildings offer amenities comparable to those of a neighbourhood park, that changes the situation dramatically. The podium-level amenity landscapes that PLANT designed for Concord Canada House enable this condominium complex’s residents to take their kids to the playground, walk the dog, or even go for a skate – all without having to leave the building.

This mixed-use complex completes the redevelopment of former railway land near Toronto’s CN Tower and Rogers Centre as CityPlace, a new high-rise neighbourhood. Concord Canada House comprises two condominium towers, 79 and 81 storeys tall, on a podium containing commercial and retail space, residential units, and parking.

The lower podium’s landscape provides residents with outdoor spaces for recreation and relaxation. At its core is a Canadian Shield-themed water feature that transforms from a summer pond to a winter skating rink. In summer, a ‘dock’ extends out to the pond’s planted, granite-sided island – a tranquil vantage point that brings a touch of cottage country into the heart of the city. Small waterfall-style fountains embedded into the island’s granite embankments add to the auditory pleasure of spending time in this setting. Benches around the pond’s perimeter invite residents to take their shoes off and dip their toes in the water. When winter arrives, the removal of the dock enables skaters to loop around the frozen pond. Rubber mats seasonally inserted into indentations along the pond’s edge provide convenient places for lacing up or taking off skates.

At the southeast corner, a seating prow juts out, offering spectacular views of Lake Ontario. Other seating areas along the promenade-walk perimeter include bench planters with firepits, a long, pergola-shaded bench and tables near the barbecue zone, terrace seating under an illuminated glass canopy, and lounge seating near the water’s edge. Planters screen the private terraces of living units facing onto the shared podium, providing a balance of openness and privacy for residents.

The upper podium prioritizes kids and dogs, in visually connected but physically separate zones. Expanding on the cottage-country theme, the playground slopes down from a ‘shore’ outfitted with a slide and an in-ground trampoline to a ‘lake’ with several climbable elements: stacked logs, a sunken rowboat, a rope climber. The dog park features boulder-studded off-leash space and unobstructed posts, connected to concealed plumbing infrastructure that offers dogs all the relief of a trip to a conventional ground-level park. Completing the upper podium is a picnic seating area that overlooks the lower podium.

PLANT also designed Concord Canada House’s streetscape, which includes planter-integrated seating and an extensive drive court.