Evergreen Brick Works 2.0

15 years after its grand opening, a nearly $16-million revitalization is transforming the Brick Works into a more inclusive, climate-resilient, and welcoming place for everyone.

~$16M

Total revitalization investment

5 Areas

Key locations on site being transformed

Summer 2026

Target completion date

About the improvements

Evergreen Brick Works has always been a place of transformation and innovation. Once a factory that created the bricks for some of Toronto’s most iconic buildings — including Casa Loma and City Hall — Evergreen and its partners transformed the abandoned industrial site into an award-winning environmental community centre in 2012.

Now, to adapt to a changing climate, serve more people, and continue demonstrating what great public spaces can do for cities, the Brick Works is evolving again. Set to be largely completed by Summer 2026, five key areas of the site are being renewed through a deeply community-rooted process: delivering ecological restoration, climate resilience, improved accessibility and deeper connections to nature and community, all at once.

This is what we mean by the multi-solving potential of public space: designing solutions that work harder, do more and serve many needs at the same time. And it’s a model we’re helping communities across Canada replicate.

“What was once thought impossible is now an integral part of our city. Evergreen Brick Works has transformed industrial wasteland into a treasured Toronto landmark where people of all ages can gather, learn, play, buy native plants and local produce and experience nature.”

Councillor Dianne Saxe

Ward 11, University-Rosedale

Five Areas. One Vision.

Ravine Centre & Indigenous Cultural Hub

The Welcome Centre

TD Future Cities Centre

The Children's Garden

Tiffany Commons & Outdoor Areas

A gateway to nature, culture, and the Don Valley ravines

As the key entry point to Toronto’s ravine system, the Ravine Centre (working name) is being transformed into a welcoming hub for learning, gathering, and cultural connection. The renewed building will feature Indigenous-led ravine interpretation and dedicated program space for Indigenous groups, alongside critical climate upgrades: restored masonry, high-efficiency HVAC, flood resilience improvements, and permeable surfaces that guide stormwater safely into Mud Creek.

A warm front door for every visitor

The Welcome Centre is the Brick Works’ first impression — and its revitalization reflects the inclusive invitation we strive to offer everyone. A new vestibule and Welcome Tower anchor the space, featuring The Promise, a commissioned art installation by Ojibwa artist Bonnie Devine, made of Corten steel and cast and stained glass. Inside, a new accessible reception area, redesigned washrooms, and improved flood resilience ensure the Centre remains a safe, reliable gathering place in a changing climate.

Where big ideas about the future of cities take shape

This is where conversations, events, and celebrations that shape the future of our communities happen. Revitalization focuses on making it function better and operate more sustainably: structural reinforcements, accessibility upgrades, and roof-mounted photovoltaic panels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Enhanced building automation improves the efficiency of its geothermal system — moving this marquee event space toward net-zero emissions while maintaining its capacity to host large-scale gatherings.

Making nature play more accessible for more kids

Phase 1, completed in September 2025, centred on the new Geoff Cape Amphitheatre with a feather-shaped wooden canopy, a reimagined Gathering Circle and fire pit built with reclaimed on-site bricks and Lake Ontario stones and a mosaic hearth co-created with kids. Upgraded lighting and circulation paths now meet playground standards for unsupervised use, extending hours year-round.

Phase 2 will add further accessibility features.

Working landscapes where nature and community coexist

Tiffany Commons is being transformed into a more comfortable, usable outdoor destination. New seating, shade sails, upgraded lighting and wayfinding, and spaces for small businesses and events make this an inviting place to linger. Beneath it all, rain gardens, bioswales and repaired stormwater capture gardens will better manage and sequester water, reduce flood risk, and enhance biodiversity.

“This investment will help ensure Evergreen Brick Works remains a resilient, welcoming place where communities can gather, explore, learn and celebrate — no matter what climate challenges lie ahead. By strengthening critical infrastructure and enhancing nature-based solutions alongside climate technology, we’re not only safeguarding vital community programming for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, but also supporting hundreds of Ontario small businesses, farmers, artists, and community organizations.”

Jen Angel

CEO, Evergreen