Published on July 16, 2024
Evergreen Brick Works is in the heart of the Don watershed, directly located in the Lower Don floodplain. Prior to the July 2024 flood, the last time the site experienced a major flood was in 2013.
Knowing that flooding is inevitable, Evergreen planned to mitigate the risk with key green design features. How we develop our cities around waterways can have massive impacts on flooding. More non-permeable surfaces and less plants mean the risk of flooding only increases. At the Brick Works, not only was the site designed to help manage stormwater, but it was also built with the idea of wet floodproofing at its core.
Wait, wet floodproofing? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
Instead of preventing buildings from flooding, wet floodproofing allows water to flow in and out of buildings. Here’s what design components we have used:
Starting from the ground up, we installed a Cupolex foundation in our buildings that not only raises the floor but also helps water, moisture, and gases escape from beneath. This innovative system creates a ventilated void under the structure, improving air circulation and reducing the risk of moisture buildup. Additionally, it provides extra room for the installation of riser pipes, which vent out to our roof, further enhancing the building’s overall efficiency and sustainability.
Preparing for our site to flood also means putting vulnerable infrastructure in key places. That means most of our main mechanical and electrical rooms are built on second floor and higher and electrical plugs are above the 25-year flood level.
Cement boards, which are water tolerant, removable and washable, are used on the lower portion of our inside walls.
But it isn’t just indoor infrastructure that needed to be installed. Our outdoor spaces were revitalized to help mitigate the risk of flooding in the first place.
Flooding is inevitable. Because we can’t prevent floods, this site has been designed to mitigate their impact.
Running parallel and adjacent to many buildings across our site, you will notice stretches of green corridors known as greenways. Greenways are designed to capture, treat, and slow the flow of stormwater runoff as it moves downstream- reducing the impact of floods on both this site and the surrounding waterways. The greenways at Evergreen Brick Works are planted with native species that create habitat for local wildlife and pollinators while redirecting stormwater runoff into the stormwater ponds.
Evergreen even installed rain barrels, similarly to how you may use them at home, but on a larger scale. Each cistern holds 20,000 liters, and — during heavy rainfall — can fill up in under 20 minutes.
When all cisterns are active, they can reduce city water usage by about 60%. And on top of that, they reduce the severity and impact of flooding and the amount of runoff that goes into the stormwater system.
The cisterns also filter out debris and use UV light to disinfect the water. The collected water is then used to flush toilets, to clean and to provide a water source for our gardens. In hot temperatures, this water is also used to feed our cooling systems.
Concrete is a major factor in what makes cities such a challenge for watersheds. Traditional concrete surfaces are impervious, meaning they do not allow water to pass through. This causes rainwater to run off into storm drains, increasing the risk of flooding and overwhelming municipal drainage systems. Additionally, this runoff can carry pollutants directly into rivers and lakes, harming aquatic ecosystems.
At the Brick Works, we used pervious concrete, which contains 25% more air than other types of concrete. This innovative material allows rainwater to flow through the concrete and into the soil beneath. The rainwater is then naturally filtered by the soil, removing contaminants before it reaches the groundwater supply. By reducing surface runoff and enhancing groundwater recharge, pervious concrete helps mitigate flooding risks and supports healthier urban watersheds.
This approach not only addresses immediate flood concerns but also contributes to long-term environmental sustainability.
On July 16th as the result of heavy rain from multiple storms, Evergreen Brick Works and the surrounding area was flooded with high water levels. Our flood recovery team is hard at work assessing the damage and cleaning up the site so we can be open again as soon as possible. Every little bit will help us repair and restore the Brick Works so we can continue to run our community programming.
If you have been to the Brick Works to enjoy our Saturday Farmers Market, had a child in camp, joined in a community event, or even just strolled along our beautiful site, please consider donating to the restoration of this Toronto landmark.
