The all-new, futuristic St. Lawrence Market unveiled at last
St. Lawrence Market’s historic north building is getting a not-so-historic-looking facelift. Yesterday, David Miller and Councillor Pam McConnell announced that a winning design for the St. Lawrence Market North Building Design Competition has been chosen from the short list of five. By 2014, the building will be transformed into a hulking four-storey structure that will house market space on the ground floor, with courtrooms and administrative offices for Toronto Court Services occupying the upper floors. It will also feature a green roof and parking garage.
The new design, by Adamson Associates Architects and Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, features a glass atrium that will provide a clear view of street life on Front and Jarvis Streets, as well as views of the south market and St. Lawrence Hall to the north. According to press material, the airy space will make indoor shoppers feel like they are in a “fresh outdoor market.” It will probably also make shoppers feel like they’re in the future (which they will be, incidentally).
The current Saturday farmers’ market and Sunday antique market will move to a temporary location at 125 The Esplanade during construction.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/the-all-new-futuristic-st-lawrence-market-unveiled-at-last/&title=The all-new, futuristic St. Lawrence Market unveiled at last&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/SaintLawrenceMarket.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_28278" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="See into the future: Church and Front Streets, c. 2014"][/caption]
St. Lawrence Market’s historic north building is getting a not-so-historic-looking facelift. Yesterday, David Miller and Councillor Pam McConnell announced that a winning design for the St. Lawrence Market North Building Design Competition has been chosen from the short list of five. By 2014, the building will be transformed into a hulking four-storey structure that will house market space on the ground floor, with courtrooms and administrative offices for Toronto Court Services occupying the upper floors. It will also feature a green roof and parking garage.
The new design, by Adamson Associates Architects and Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, features a glass atrium that will provide a clear view of street life on Front and Jarvis Streets, as well as views of the south market and St. Lawrence Hall to the north. According to press material, the airy space will make indoor shoppers feel like they are in a “fresh outdoor market.” It will probably also make shoppers feel like they’re in the future (which they will be, incidentally).
The current Saturday farmers’ market and Sunday antique market will move to a temporary location at 125 The Esplanade during construction.
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I am heart broken over this. St. Lawrence Market was like home… It will lose it’s history and charm with this “facelift”. Very sad:(
It’s the ugly 60s north market being replaced… not the historic south market. No need to be heartbroken.
I still think they should name it after the egg man in the North Market, who recently passed away. He served the Market for what…52 years?
Love it.
I don’t know. Both of those renderings show it at night with artful lighting. I worry that in the daytime it will look like so much drab 80’s metal ductwork. It reminds me of the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
Susan, the article says nothing about new commercial developments. The Farmers’ Market will occupy the ground floor and there will be offices above.
Love it.
Looks like the bastard child of an half-finished airport reno and a dialysis machine.
just curious, who gets to decide on this? Can we have access to the 5 shortlists?
WHAT is the matter with this city and its designers, all of whom seem to have zero taste? Why is there never any thought given to context, or effect on the buildings around? A hodge-podge of ugliness. Why isn’t anybody visiting Chicago to see how it’s properly done? All I see are glass boxes seemingly going up overnight all over the city – condominiums with no charm or individuality. I give up now seeing this monstrosity that’s going to be the north building of the St. Lawrence Market. It’ll overshadow and overwhelm one of the few buildings that actually makes the top ten of any worldwide list. Well done!
Why do we always destroy our history? The St. Lawrence Market may need a face lift but not another airport-like building with no sole! What a loss for our city and for our children who will only be able to read about our historical market! Shame to you all!
To all those complaining – the final 5 designs were put out for public feedback and comment. Out of the 5, this was certainly one of the best. This design is actually very clever and you would be well served to go to the Toronto website and read a little bit more about it.
@Neil Abrahams,
Not to worry. There will be plenty of sole, cod, salmon, and other fish for sale by the many fishmongers located in the south building.
@Lincoln, well done.
Whose pants are on fire on this one?
A green roof? How is that possible with the cantilevered
roof represented in the rendering?
Another fish bowl in an historic ‘hood.
A leading candidate as a winner in the “Puglie Awards.”
@Phil – Harlen Clark. I think it was actually 60 years.
And the complaints are kind of funny. Designs have been out for a while, the information on what building is being replaced is clear, and the farmer’s market will live on. With some subterranean parking, will likely even improve, since the development in the area has limited a lot of the parking, which was really hurting the market.
Although I would have preferred a space that was dedicated to the market, I can understand the city needing to do more with it. And the space through the middle that allows that view to both St. Lawrence Hall and the South market make the most of putting something in there.
Well we are talking about a charmless north building here and the designs submitted encapsulated many outstanding issues at the current market space as it was really only utilized 30% of the time…i wonder if those who are critical have seen the embarrassing “salute to drywall” on Bloor compared to the absolute beauty of Koerner Hall next door…sometimes they get it right
After reading the fine print on this design, it should serve the area well. Yes it’s another glass box but it will bring the surrounding historic structures indoors with (what will hopefully be) clear views of the south market and St. Lawrence Hall as well as street life. If they can make a main pedestrian gateway into the building off of the Market Park, that should migigate the effects of parking traffic off of Jarvis and have life around three sides of the building.
….and they should name the building (or at least the building’s atrium) after the Egg Man. I miss those farm fresh eggs he so lovingly sold.