Since opening in 1965, Nathan Phillips Square has served as Toronto’s premier public space and civic gathering place, a leading tourist attraction, and a national and provincial landmark. Every year, over 1.5 million visitors attend a variety of community and special events hosted on the Square.

In 2007 the team led by the Joint Venture Team of Perkins+Will and Plant Architect Inc. were selected from over forty-eight final submissions taking part in an international Design Competition.

The winning design for the Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Project is based on the idea that Nathan Phillips Square has always acted as an agora, the ancient Athenian place of public and political exchange. The theme clearly defines the inner open space of theatre and square – a theatre for the city surrounded by a forested perimeter.

New program elements include a public pavilion with skating rink support facilities, food concession and an upper level roof terrace overlooking the Square, a new tourist Info Kiosk, a versatile new outdoor theatre and a new two storey restaurant. These program elements not only activate the square but serve as vertical connectors to the elevated walkway which defines the site.

The first phase of the revitalization project has now been realized with the reopening of the City Hall Podium Green Roof during Doors Open Toronto 2010, as the city’s largest, publicly accessible green roof. Phase 2 revitalizations are now underway.