Plans are being reworked, a heritage assessment has been prepared by Brown and Storey Architects, Heritage Preservation Services are working with Parks and Recreation to save and possibly restore the property. The sculpture was lost a generation ago.
Robert Ruggiero attributes the building to architect Alan Crossley. In a recent tweet he quotes from Councillor DiCiani´s newsletter announcing refurbishment of the structure as follows, the washrooms will be demolished, the columns will be faced with stone, the canopy will be restored and painted, with a new patterned concrete pad beneath. In a note to ACO President, architect Annabel Vaughan noted "This is a beautiful little gem of a pavilion....would be a shame to bastardize it." ACO President Catherine Nasmith wrote to the Councillor´s office to express concern about the facing of the columns in stone, the loss of the stone washroom facilities. Executive Assistant Mary Campbell responded that the concerns had been shared with Parks staff, and that "staff will implement as they deem appropriate." Note photo from Panda Fonds showing the early condition with a sculpture lit by the opening in the roof. A lovely gesture to the everyday users of the place.
On July 7, we learned that the Parks department have been in touch with Heritage Preservation Services for advice, so we look forward to improvements in the project.
Sign the Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/architectural-conservancy-save-the-toronto-oculus
Concrete Toronto Author - Michael McLelland, Graeme Stewart Date - 2007 Page - 181, Fig. 4 Notes - Photo from the Panda Fonds,Canadian Architectural Archives, University of Calgary, PAN61464-2, Etobicoke Park Pavilion
