A new Ontario Court of Justice building will soon rise above grade at the corner of Armoury Street and Centre Avenue, immediately northwest of City Hall in Downtown Toronto. The Infrastructure Ontario project will consolidate several existing Ontario court facilities from various locations around the city into a single 17-storey building designed by world-renowned architects Renzo Piano Building Workshop working with Toronto-based NORR Architects.

Looking west over the site of the Ontario Court of Justice building, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

Crews from EllisDon have been working away at the site since construction got underway September 2018 following partial shoring and an archaeological dig. Objects found during the dig are now featured on artwork applied to the hoarding that surrounds the construction site, featured in a recent article on Spacing.ca. Excavation continued from September, 2018 into March, 2019, when a tower crane was raised and work began on forming the two underground levels. They will provide space for transfer services and space to park 109 motorized vehicles.

South end of the Ontario Court of Justice building's underground component, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

About 5 months later, the second of these complicated levels is being formed, with concrete and steel now sitting just below street level. Work is furthest along at the north end of the site where the B1 level is now taking shape, as forming of the B2 level continues to the south. B1 level walls, columns, and an elevator core are now apparent, preparing the way for the upcoming ground level concrete pour.

North end of the Ontario Court of Justice building's underground component, image by Forum contributor Rascacielo

Expected to open for Spring 2022, the building will house 63 courtrooms of various configurations and sizes, as well as the first Indigenous Learning Centre in an Ontario courthouse. In an effort to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification, the project is implementing a number of energy efficiency measures designed to reduce its carbon footprint.

Ontario Court of Justice, image via submission to City of Toronto

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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