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Mixed Use

Pan Am Games Athletes' Village

The Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games Athletes' Village transformed 32 hectares of former industrial lands in the West Don Lands into a vibrant, thriving mixed-use community. Our master plan balanced the immediate needs to house 8,500 athletes with the long-term vision for a dynamic neighbourhood - one designed to stand as a lasting model of urban regeneration.
project Type
Mixed Use
location
Toronto, Ontario
client
Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
dates
2011 - 2015
expertise
Planning
land Information
Aerial view of downtown Toronto skyline featuring the CN Tower, with a central park space and waterway surrounded by railway tracks and urban development.
Mixed Use

Pan Am Games Athletes' Village

Aerial view of downtown Toronto skyline featuring the CN Tower, with a central park space and waterway surrounded by railway tracks and urban development.
project Type
Mixed Use
location
Toronto, Ontario
client
Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
land Information
dates
2011 - 2015
expertise
Planning
The Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games Athletes' Village transformed 32 hectares of former industrial lands in the West Don Lands into a vibrant, thriving mixed-use community. Our master plan balanced the immediate needs to house 8,500 athletes with the long-term vision for a dynamic neighbourhood - one designed to stand as a lasting model of urban regeneration.

From the outset, we approached the Athletes' Village not as a temporary Games venue, but as the foundation for a lasting community. Our master plan anticipated its evolution from housing 8,500 athletes to welcoming families with flexible units and adaptable spaces that could easily shift from Games-time amenities to everyday residential life. This approach ensured that the investment in infrastructure would benefit Toronto residents for generations, transforming once-industrial riverfront lands into one of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Aerial view of an urban development featuring modern buildings with distinctive rooftops, parking areas, and autumn-colored street trees.
The master plan establishes the Front Street Esplanade as the neighbourhood's beating heart, lined with retail developments and taller buildings that create urban energy while maintaining human scale. East-west streets frame views and connect to park space that remind residents of their unique riverfront location. Neighbourhood-scale north-south streets are lined with townhouses, balancing the urban energy of the central spine with quieter family-oriented spaces.
Aerial view of downtown Toronto showing modern urban development integrated with fall-colored parkland and waterfront infrastructure.

The Village's success as both Games venue and lasting community has catalyzed broader transformation throughout the West Don Lands. The award-winning YMCA and George Brown College anchor one block, while subsequent developments like River City and the precedent-setting Corktown Common urban park demonstrate how our original master plan framework continues to guide thoughtful growth.

Aerial view of a modern urban development showing commercial buildings, residential towers, and tree-lined streets during autumn.

Each new phase builds on the original planning principles: connecting with the river landscape, blending uses to create vibrancy, and shaping public spaces that bring neighbours together.

Toronto skyline at dusk showing downtown core with CN Tower, illuminated streets, and urban development extending towards the waterfront.

The Athletes' Village proves how major sporting events can be catalysts for lasting urban renewal when guided by community-focused vision. By designing eight blocks of mixed-use housing - combining market-rate and affordable options - we created economic diversity and lasting beauty. The successful shift from Games facility to vibrant neighbourhood highlights how strategic planning can turn a temporary opportunity into a permanent community asset, establishing a model for a regenerative development cities around the world continue to learn from and adapt.