The Design Drafts – Crosstown Design Overview

The Design Drafts is a new series of articles focusing on the design of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. In the coming months, articles will focus on topics like station design, neighbourhood integration and public artwork.

When the original Yonge Subway opened in 1954, it was revolutionary for Toronto, helping to move thousands around the city every day. In the 63 years since, however, many have come to realize that rapid transit should be more than just stations and tracks. We’ve learned that accessibility, aesthetics and ergonomics also play a major part in designing a transit system that is not only functional, but enjoyable to use. With the Eglinton Crosstown, we’re applying wisdom from Toronto’s transit history – and from around the world – to our designs, to greatly improve rider experience will be truly exceptional.

We started with one of the best design teams in the world, IBI group. Together with a team of sub-consultants, they’ve prepared station designs that bring modern features and visuals to the Crosstown.

 IBI’s stunning render of the remade Salvation Army building at Yonge & Eglinton, which will house utilities for the Crosstown

IBI has maintained a ‘passenger first’ focus on all Crosstown stations and stops through the use of lighting and simple, open designs. Crosstown Stations will feature windows and skylights, with layouts that allow as much daylight inside as possible, even down to the platform level. The surface portion design of the Crosstown features ‘green’ tracks and additional foliage to help integrate the line with Eglinton’s many parks and green spaces.

 Green Tracks on the Eglinton Crosstown

With 15 stations and 10 stops, the Crosstown is the largest transit expansion in Toronto’s history. IBI Group identified and analyzed the urban landscape around every station and stop to better integrate with the local community. For example, at Mount Dennis, the community’s history was acknowledged through the re-purposing of former Kodak Building 9 as the tertiary station entrance.

Former Kodak Building 9 will be transformed into an entrance for Mount Dennis Station.

Stay tuned for in-depth analyses on specific stations and design features in the coming months.