As approaches to law enforcement are evolving, so too is the architecture of police buildings. Toronto Police Service Division 41 is a contemporary police station that’s design embraces seemingly conflicting requirements and aspirations, turning them into opportunities. The resulting project is both secure and welcoming, takes queues from its natural and urban surroundings, and is responsive to the current and future context. By targeting Net Zero Carbon Emissions and engaging Indigenous constituents, the architects collaborated with Toronto Police Service (TPS) to take on contemporary urgencies in order to develop its future presence in a rapidly changing City.

A Landmark for an Emerging Community

The new police station is conceived of as a gateway building that will become a well-connected local landmark in a densifying neighborhood. Its prominent corner site in Scarborough – an inner suburb of Toronto – is currently a border between single family homes to the east and commercial/industrial lands to the west. However, the area will transform with a new light rail transit line and 100+ proposed tall and mid-rise buildings that will dramatically increase pedestrian traffic at the site. While its scale modulates between the different heights of urban fabrics on either side, its architectural character invokes civic and community buildings that are approachable by a broad public.

Spaces for the Community

The site plan approach and architectural character are influenced by TPS’ goal of integrating with its community and resetting how it is perceived by the public. The existing Division 41 has an architectural language that communicates distance from its community via small windows, a dark front entrance and large lawns between the street and building. In contrast, the new station’s primary facades are closer to the sidewalk and the plaza’s landscape design and street furniture encourage people to gather. The transparent ground floor facade offers views into the lobby and community room to invite people inside. The glazing strategy and materials help associate Division 41 with the civic and community building typologies that can be found elsewhere in the neighbourhood.

Several design moves help the building express TPS’ drive to reach out to a broad public, such as situating the main entrance to face the intersection and sheltering it with a generous cantilever. The designs for the community room and adjacent landscape were collaboratively developed through an engagement process involving the design team, TPS, and several community groups. Available to be reserved and used for free by the public, the community room is highly visible due to its location on the primary facade. The Aboriginal Committee’s input resulted in an air handling system that enables indoor smudging ceremonies and a door that creates a direct interior–exterior connection during events. The landscape architecture of the plaza integrates a symbolic circle into the paving and plantings that are culturally relevant.

Massing Strategy

The ‘double bar’ part for the project’s massing resolved technical design challenges and established a strong formal relationship to the site. Firstly, it was derived from a program adjacency study that resulted in a concept for an east-west circulation spine with a group of program flanking each side. Secondly, organizing the building into two wings meant they could be constructed in phases. This was critical because the new Division 41 police station would be built on the site of the existing one, which would remain fully operational throughout construction. A carefully planned sequence of decanting, demolition and construction was developed and enabled by the ‘double bar’ scheme. The design decision to angle the two roofs in opposite directions creates a building resembling a landform with strategically located windows. Inside, this approach creates two heroic spaces used for work and restoration by the police forces. At the urban scale, the sloping forms exaggerate the site’s slope from the eastern low point in the natural ravine to the peaks of the future towers to the west.

Sustainability Leadership

The new Division 41 station is at the leading edge of highly sustainable municipal buildings in Toronto. Under construction since Spring 2023, it will be the first realized TPS building that is targeting Net Zero Carbon Emissions. Additionally, it will meet the Toronto Green Standard Tier 2, Version 3. While large biodiverse green roofs and photovoltaic roof panels announce the building’s sustainability, many concealed features such as the subgrade geothermal and electrified building systems contribute to its high performance. No fossil fuel burning equipment is specified and the on-site renewable energy system is projected to produce approximately 40% of the building’s total annual energy use. The drive to achieve net zero during the operational life of this building was catalyzed by the City of Toronto which has ambitious sustainability targets for municipally owned buildings in 2030 and beyond.

Architecturally, the majority of the building’s envelope is comprised of solid, highly insulated exterior walls that are punctuated with limited windows. This window-to-wall ratio, combined with construction details that reduce air leakage, reduce heat transfer to create an energy efficient and comfortable interior. Curtain wall is strategically located at the main entrance and in the forces’ shared offices and fitness space to promote staff wellness via access to natural daylight. This project skillfully coordinates the envelope design with the program, user comfort and energy performance goals to achieve a seamless whole.

Beyond the building, site strategies enhance the landscape so it is more sustainable than the baseline existing site. Tree canopies along sidewalks provide shade for pedestrians while the parking area provides a ratio of one tree for every five parking spots to reduce heat island effect. High albedo coating on the parking surface and ample soft landscaping contribute to a cool, permeable site that adeptly handles stormwater and positively impacts its surroundings.
TPS Division 41 achieves sustainability leadership by delivering a design that thoughtfully integrates sustainability at all scales. The initial construction materials, and low ongoing energy use, make this community building a public asset in the short term and for future generations.