Discovery District
Toronto
The University of Toronto in partnership with a consortium of major medical and science research institutions in the heart of Downtown Toronto is developing a Strategic Real Estate Plan for the emerging "Discovery District", one of the major urban concentrations of health science activity in North America. The Stakeholder Working group includes the Governing Council of the University of Toronto, MaRS, the University Health Network (Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto General Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital), the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Rehab, Mount Sinai Hospital, Women's College Hospital and the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion. The purpose of this exercise is to articulate a coordinated vision for the Discovery District within its urban context that communicates the long-term planning and development objectives of the District and its constituent organizations to municipal and provincial decision-makers and the broader public. It is addressing a range of issues, including defining the appropriate boundaries for the District; existing and planned future space usage and needs; opportunities for shared use development and operational synergies; coordinated branding of the District; strategic guidance on growth and development opportunities in the context land use planning regulations and impact on adjacent neighbourhoods; transportation and parking issues; and urban character and form. Ken Greenberg co-led this multi-disciplinary exercise with the Planning Partnership.