The Evergreen Brick Works site recently unveiled its surroundings with a weekend open house for all of Toronto to explore. The property has been transformed from barren land and dilapitated buildings to one of the most awe-inspiring complexes in Toronto. It has already placed the City on a few Top 10 lists for its forward thinking concepts.
History
From 1889 to the 1980s the Don Valley Brick Works was one of Canada’s pre-eminent brickyards. At its peak more than 43 million bricks a year were manufactured for use in the construction of homes and buildings across Canada. Many of Toronto’s most prominent buildings were made from Don Valley brick – Massey Hall and Old City Hall are two examples.
In the late 1980s the site was expropriated by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), backed by the Province of Ontario. The site was acquired for public use because of its geological and brick-making heritage, and because of its place in the lower Don River watershed. The site’s quarry was recognized by the Province as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. In 2002, the site’s buildings were designated by the City of Toronto under the Ontario Heritage Act.
In the 1990s the City and TRCA raised approximately $6 million to restore the site’s quarry as a park and natural area. The Don Valley Brick Works Park is awe-inspiring: a haven for wildlife and naturalists alike, it is at the heart of Toronto’s ravines. Opened in 1996, the park is managed by Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation.
Evergreen’s focus has been the site’s 16 historic factory buildings. The buildings – a collection of brick structures from the early 1900s and industrial sheds from the 1950s – have been revitalized through a process called “adaptive re-use.” The result is Evergreen Brick Works – a community environmental centre with programs that celebrate the site’s unique geological, industrial and natural heritage.
Social Enterprise
Evergreen Brick Works is a social enterprise. Public support—buying plants, paying activity fees or feeding the parking meter—helps deliver accessible and inclusive community programs that bring nature back to cities.
Operating income will be generated from office space and event rentals; Evergreen Gardens, a mission-driven retail space; a café, summer camps; parking and other revenue-generating activity. At the same time, Evergreen Brick Works will provide a social and environmental return to the community in the form of new programs and services that improve environmental quality and promote health and wellness. As a result it will demonstrate environmental, social and economic sustainability.
A competition inspired Evergreen board and staff to develop plans for a native plant nursery, a retail facility selling native plants, and offering educational programs on ecological gardening to the general public. That idea evolved to become the more fully developed plan for Evergreen Brick Works that we see today.
Sustainability and Beyond
The transformation of the historic Don Valley Brick Works into Canada’s first large-scale community environmental centre represents a striking new model for the future, a heritage destination where nature meets innovation in the heart of an urban centre.
Sustainability is a goal that that was fundamental to the design of the centre, and will be front and centre in site operations. Sustainability is also a central programming theme. Visitors will be given many ideas that they can take home and apply in their own homes, businesses and schools to help create healthier cities.
By applying the best, most innovative thinking to the site, Evergreen is able to respect the heritage buildings of the past, address the human and ecological needs of the present, and promote a healthier, more sustainable approach to creating the cities of the future. The site is at the centre of Toronto’s industrial and architectural heritage and includes one of the five most important geological sites in North America.
Creating more sustainable cities requires a widespread shift in building practices. As a showcase for green design, Evergreen Brick Works has embedded energy, water and waste savings across the 12-acre site. It is using innovative methods to reduce any negative environmental impact and contribute positively to the ecosystem.
Built within the former floodlands of the Don River, one of the best ways to access the site is via bicycle along the extensive network of multi-use trails. There’s something for everyone from youth activities and artist workshops, to holistic courses and a huge farmer’s market. This is certain to be a destination of choice for both locals and visitors alike, and is worth a visit anytime of the year.
In 2010, Evergreen Brick Works was named one of the world’s top 10 geotourism destinations by National Geographic Magazine.
More information can be found at www.evergreen.ca