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A major revitalization is underway for Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto’s Don Valley with Evergreen Brick Works 2.0. Roughly 15 years after the site’s transformation into an environmental community centre, Evergreen's initiative represents the next phase in its ongoing evolution. Backed by an approximately $15.6M–$16M investment, the project will renew five program areas across the historic campus through a coordinated set of upgrades focused on climate resilience and accessibility.
Designed by LGA Architectural Partners and DTAH Architects Limited in joint venture, the proposal introduces targeted interventions across the low-rise heritage site. The work is targeted for completion by Summer 2026.
The site is within the Don Valley on the west side of Bayview Avenue opposite Pottery Road, occupying a large naturalized property embedded in one of Toronto’s most extensive green corridors. The campus comprises a collection of low-rise heritage industrial buildings and open spaces adapted for contemporary use, including event venues, community programming areas, and the Weston Family Quarry Garden, alongside outdoor markets and gathering spaces that support farmers, small businesses, and public events.
The site’s history traces back to 1889, when the Don Valley Brick Works began operating as one of Canada’s leading brick manufacturers. Brickmaking operations ceased in the 1980s, and the lands were acquired by the City of Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for public use. Through the 1990s, the former quarry was restored into what is now the Weston Family Quarry Garden, while the remaining industrial structures were designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2002. A comprehensive adaptive reuse effort led by Evergreen transformed the site into an environmental community centre, opening in the early 2010s.
Evergreen Brick Works 2.0 is structured around upgrades to five areas across the campus. At the Ravine Centre & Indigenous Cultural Hub (positioned as a primary gateway to the Don Valley), plans call for a reimagined entry point with Indigenous-led interpretation and dedicated program space, alongside restored masonry, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and flood mitigation measures that guide stormwater toward Mud Creek. Nearby, the Welcome Centre will be reconfigured as a more inclusive arrival space, anchored by a new vestibule and Welcome Tower featuring a public art installation, with interior upgrades including accessible reception areas, redesigned washrooms, and improved resilience to flooding.
Within the existing heritage buildings, the TD Future Cities Centre will undergo targeted retrofits aimed at improving long-term sustainability and functionality as an event venue. Structural reinforcements and accessibility upgrades will be paired with roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and improved building automation systems tied to the site’s geothermal infrastructure, advancing performance toward net-zero emissions.
Meanwhile, the Children’s Garden (completed in 2025) introduces new play and learning environments, including an amphitheatre with a wood canopy, a reconfigured gathering circle with a fire feature built from reclaimed materials, and upgraded lighting and circulation designed to meet current playground standards, with further accessibility improvements planned in a second phase.
At the landscape level, Tiffany Commons & Outdoor Areas will be modified to support year-round use through the addition of seating, shade structures, lighting, and flexible spaces for small businesses and events. These public realm upgrades are paired with green infrastructure, including rain gardens, bioswales, and restored stormwater capture systems designed to reduce flood risk and improve on-site water management.
Tucked within the Don Valley ravine park system, the site is located roughly a 7-minute drive from Broadview station on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth, while the Don Valley Parkway runs nearby to the east. With completion expected in Summer 2026, the project marks the next stage in the site’s evolution.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on these developments, but in the meantime, you can learn more about them from our Database files, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversations in the associated Project Forum threads or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to credit firms LGA and DTAH as architectural designers in joint venture.
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