Community Square at Harbourfront Centre
Toronto, Ontario
In Collaboration with Barnbrook
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Plaza with Fog Feature, Site Furnishing (Communal Benches, Movable Shade Umbrellas with Seating), Performance Stage, Patio Deck, Tiered Seating, Tree Grove
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2026 D&AD Pencil Award: Spatial Design / Public Spaces
For over 50-years Harbourfront Centre’s cultural programs and outdoor spaces have drawn Torontonians and visitors alike to the city’s waterfront. MJMA’s renewal project began with the Centre’s beloved but end-of-life ice rink and pond. It nonetheless soon expanded into a complete renovation of the public square, transforming it into a more versatile, year-round destination that also revitalizes Harbourfront’s identity as a civic hub.
The new plaza balances the energy of a city square with the tranquility of a park. While providing an array of amenities that encourage lingering, socializing, and play, the design focuses on social and climate resilience.
Situated on Toronto’s central waterfront, the Harbourfront Centre is a major civic and community destination for cultural, educational, and recreational programming. The design of the central plaza supports a year-round calendar of events such as outdoor exhibitions, performances, and celebrations.
Set against the backdrops of downtown Toronto, Lake Ontario, and the Toronto Islands, the revitalized square also strengthens Harbourfont Centre’s visibility by giving it a recognizable lakefront address.
Creating an ever-changing spectacle along the harbour, the fog’s rolling movement draws people into the square. With its 617 nozzles, this feature offers novel ways of engaging in water-based fun. At night, the fog becomes a canvas for an array of light shows.
The plaza’s custom-designed precast concrete slabs create a pattern in abstract ‘H’ shapes, supporting Harbourfront Centre's rebranding efforts. This bold identity is visible at ground level and from above, notably from the CN Tower and along the flight paths of nearby Billy Bishop Airport.
Fixed and movable communal benches, movable custom umbrellas, and integrated power and lighting systems support a wide array of events.
On the eastern and western edges of the square are shaded areas planted with native trees, offering respite and buffering lakefront breezes. Circular in shape and flat or bermed, these areas echo that plaza’s graphic forms. The gentle topography provides seating for performances and people-watching while also protecting tree roots from the site's high water table.
