InfraStructures - May 2015 - Toronto’s Distillery District Streetscape Revitalization

Toronto’s Distillery District Streetscape Revitalization

The Toronto Distillery District is characterized by its traditional brick-paved streets and lanes, the center core of which caters to pedestrians and cyclists. Regular motor traffic is restricted to designated streets and parking areas located around the district’s historic center. Specific to these areas are the trees and the importance they bring to the streetscape revitalization. In order for these public spaces to maintain their ease of access and beautiful appearance, the trees must remain healthy – and that is where the StrataCell system comes in.

The recent renovation project that took place in this district required a group of visionaries which included general contractors, landscape architects, urban planners, designers, and contractors or all degrees who had great plans for this space to create an attractive downtown environment.

The Planning Partnership, a multidisciplinary practice providing land use planning, urban design, landscape architecture, and consultation services to public and private sector clients, was heavily involved in the renovation project, especially when the major scope of the project shifted its focus to creating stabilized slopes to the streetscape and planting on brick-lined pedestrian walkways.

The StrataCell system offered the benefits required to sustain the trees, while its load-bearing capability provided the strength required for motor vehicle and pedestrian activity on the surface. Throughout the project planning, there were also concerns among clients to meet H20 Loading and AASHTO standards, which further addressed why the strength provided by the StrataCell system made this a beneficial choice for being used.

“GreenBlue Infrastructure Solutions provided us with engineered drawings to assure the designers and clients that the StrataCell would meet these H20 load requirements,” said Michael Ormston-Holloway, BSc, MScP, GDHort, MLA, Associate of Planning Partnership and ISA Certified Arborist. “This was a great benefit to know, that helped us assure the clients.”

“Another benefit of using the StrataCell came into play when we had to deal with the paving and deep underground garage parking,” said David Mugford, BLA, ASLA, of The Planning Partnership. “Dealing with this limited profile gave us a fine-grain approach to layer the StrataCells to allow us to get the maximum soil volume possible, especially since these trees can go into constrained conditions pretty easily.” “The knowledge that GreenBlue Infrastructure Solutions offered gave us the ammunition behind the decisions we made,” added Mr. Mugford. “It’s a well-researched company that has done their homework – which makes it easier to work with their product.”

Source: GreenBlue Infrastructure Solutions

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