Western North York Community Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Area : 85,300 sf
The Western North York Community Centre (WNYCC) exemplifies the transformative potential of civic architecture usedto challenge industry norms. Commissioned by the City of Toronto in 2017, it will be one of Canada’s first Net Zero Energy aquatic facilities. Integrating groundbreaking strategies to address energy-intensive recreational buildings, the facility will incorporate several firsts for the City to radically reduce energy demand, making 100% offset from on-site renewable energy and a tight site possible.
The project also introduces new standards for swimming pool construction, including lower-carbon concrete and innovative pool systems that required an unprecedented collaborative effort with the Client group to ensure proper operation of the building.
MJMA’s research-driven approach for the project was a catalyst for the studio to study and set new embodied carbon benchmarks for recreation facilities, a first in North America. Beyond environmental performance, the WNYCC will foster social resilience by connecting two neighbourhoods experiencing growth five times the city’s average. To ensure community integration, an extensive MJMA-led engagement campaign incorporated a diverse set of voices to determine the community’s needs.
The project received a 2025 Research & Innovation in Architecture Award from the RAIC.