Coordinates: 43°39′7″N, 79°22′56″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Nathan Phillips Square, 2005

Nathan Phillips Square is a city square that forms the front (south) entrance to Toronto City Hall or 'New City Hall' at Queen Street West and Bay Street (its address is 100 Queen West). Nathan Phillips was mayor of Toronto from 1955 to 1962. The square opened in 1965. Like City Hall, the square was designed by Viljo Revell. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1506x2024, 359 KB) Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Canada. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1506x2024, 359 KB) Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Canada. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, a town square is an area in the middle of a traditional town consisting of a park or plaza and surrounded by small shops. ... Toronto City Hall The upper left hand corner of this picture is where Toronto City Hall would be built. ... Queen Street West refers to both a major east-west downtown street and a series of neighbourhoods or commercial districts within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Torontos Bay Street in the heart of the financial district. ... For other people named Nathan Phillips, see Nathan Phillips (disambiguation) Nathan Phillips, KC (November 7, 1892 – January 7, 1976) was a Canadian politician and popular Mayor of Toronto, Ontario. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Viljo Revell (January 25, 1910– November 8, 1964) was a Finnish architect of the functionalist school. ...

The square is paved with large concrete slabs. It features an ice rink/reflecting pool at the south end, a peace garden in the middle, and "Three-Way Piece No. 2" ("The Archer") by Henry Moore at the north end in front of City Hall. An elevated concrete walkway runs along the perimeter and allows access to the podium roof of city hall; budget limitations, however, now require that the walkway be closed for much of the year. At the southwest corner of the square, on Queen Street, is Oscar Nemon's statue of Sir Winston Churchill. Reclining Figure (1951) outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, is characteristic of Moores sculptures, with an abstract female figure intercut with voids. ... Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was an English statesman, soldier, and author. ...

The rink/pool has been spanned by three concrete arches since it was built. In 1989 these were dedicated as Freedom Arches commemorating those who have fought to obtain or defend freedom. At the southern base of the central arch is a piece of the Berlin Wall. The square is the site of concerts, art displays, a weekly farmers' market, the winter festival and other public events, including demonstrations. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... East German construction workers building the Berlin Wall, 20 November 1961. ...

Redesign

A design competition was launched in the start of October, 2006, soliciting proposals for a revitalization of the square from forty-eight local and international firms. On March 8, 2007, it was announced that the team led by PLANT Architect Inc. & Shore Tilbe Irwin + Partners (both of Toronto) had won the competition. The project, which is estimated to cost $40 million, will begin construction once sufficient funds have been raised; so far the City of Toronto has put aside $16 million for the square. For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Shore Tilbe Irwin + Partners (STI+P), architects and engineers, is an architectural firm based in Toronto, Canada. ...

The design 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, and a square surrounded by a forested perimeter. An agora (αγορά), translatable as marketplace, was an essential part of an ancient Greek polis or city-state. ...

The design includes:

- a new public pavilion at the southwest corner of the Square with rink support facilities, and an upper level roof terrace overlooking the Square; - a two-level restaurant in the southwest portion of the Square with outdoor patio and terrace dining; - a new glass pavilion at Queen and Bay Streets with a tourist information kiosk; - a versatile new stage structure with an elegant roof canopy; - redesigned landscaping along the edges of the Square and the west side by increasing the number of trees, planting mixed tree species; - a wide variety of sustainable design achievements linked to Toronto’s Green Standard such as: a soil regeneration strategy; improved tree planting conditions and increased biomass and number of trees; facilities for cyclists and promotion of cycling; improved pedestrian environment; controlling light pollution; energy efficient design; renewable energy features; opportunities for public education; attention to the on-site microclimate; and local sourcing of materials; - a larger and enhanced Peace Garden with a birch grove and reflecting pool; - animating the podium roof of City Hall with a perimeter landscaped garden, a courtyard framing the Council Chamber and a café at the prow; - upgrading the overhead walkways with wood decking, seating, glass balustrades, light wells and improved access; and - a seasonal disappearing water fountain in the center of the Square.

Facts and Figures

In the 1980 film The Kidnapping of the President starring William Shatner and Hal Holbrook the city hall and Nathan Phillips Square provided the location for a protracted hostage scene. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Kidnapping of the President is a 1980 political thriller film made by Presidential Films and Sefel Films and distributed by Crown International Pictures. ... William Bill Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning Canadian actor, who gained fame for his starring role as Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the television show Star Trek from 1966 to 1969 and in seven of the subsequent movies. ... Holbrook as Twain, 1957. ...

The climax of the 2004 film Resident Evil: Apocalypse was filmed at Nathan Phillips Square and Toronto City Hall. A helicopter, which used the square as a helipad, was flown in and the elevated concrete walkway was opened up for the film shoot. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Resident Evil: Apocalypse is the sequel to the 2002 film Resident Evil from Screen Gems, written by Paul W. S. Anderson and directed by Alexander Witt. ...

It was also featured as the scene of an assassination attempt in the film The Sentinel. The Sentinel is a 2006 thriller film starring Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, and Kim Basinger. ...

External links

• Nathan Phillips Square – City of Toronto website
• Information on Design competition
• Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Design Competition Brief
• PLANT Architect Inc. website