The design greatly increases the amount of daylight to the activity rooms and acts as a glowing beacon at night, inviting the nearby residents and increasing safety.

The idea of providing new multi-purpose program rooms to this existing community centre created the opportunity to re-establish the O’Connor Community Centre as a local landmark.

Located next to a Toronto Housing Authority Development, this well used existing community centre is too small to accommodate the demand for wide range of programs needed.  Sandwiched between a housing project, a parking lot, an open field and outdoor swimming pool, the centre is a stand alone structure with no apparent address.

The goal of the redesign is to create a community centre with lantern like qualities and a relocated and easy to find entrance.  A signage tower and projecting canopy makes the entrance more readily apparent.  Large glazed aluminum windows provide views of the neighbourhood, and allow programs occurring within to be visible to the community.  New elevations of colourful glazed concrete block and cement panels guide visitors to the entrance while unifying and enhancing the existing building.  

The ground floor is redesigned to provide improved circulation complete with a barrier free lift, more storage, a renovated office with improved sightlines throughout, a new youth lounge/computer room and new entrance lobby.

The second floor addition includes a new youth program room, an adjacent multi-purpose community program room and preschool room which can be combined to create a larger program room, barrier free washrooms and a barrier free lift.