Home to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U), Toronto's Dundas and McCaul area is arguably the epicentre of the city's arts community. This is reflected in the architectural statements of Frank Gehry's AGO and Will Alsop's OCAD U Sharp Centre for Design… and now also for a smaller project currently wrapping up at the southeast corner of Dundas and McCaul.

Looking south to the Rosalie Sharp Pavilion, image by Jack Landau

OCAD U's Rosalie Sharp Pavilion has been undergoing a major refresh since 2017, when the 2.5-storey building was cleared out in advance of its Bortolotto-designed renovation. Almost two years later, work is now wrapping up some of the final elements in construction, though the exterior upgrades are largely complete. The most notable design feature, now in place, brings a sweeping perforated steel scrim to the building's exterior, forming a dialogue with the nearby architecture of the AGO and Sharp Centre.

Bortolotto's Rosalie Sharp Pavilion with Gehry's AGO in the background, image by UT Forum contributor AlbertC

Renderings released during the planning stage depicted an aluminum scrim with a white finish, though a number of factors led the project team working with OCAD University to the conclusion that unfinished stainless steel would prove more practical. The design of the scrim represents a data visualization of downtown Toronto streets overlaid with locations of art and cultural institutions.

Scrim detail at the Rosalie Sharp Pavilion, image by Jack Landau

The only remaining work before construction is complete are some final elements for the scrim including a gutter and heat tracing, to be followed by a power washing of the entire scrim and the addressing of minor deficiencies.

Late last year, OCAD U officially reopened the interior renovations as construction began to wind down. The update is part of the institution's Creative City Campus project, which aims to re-imagine the use of campus space in an effort to expand studio, digital and work-integrated-learning space.

October 2018 ribbon-cutting at the Rosalie Sharp Pavilion, image via ocadu.ca

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

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