Toronto's largest community centre to be built in North York

Artistic rendering of Bessarion Community Centre. (City of Toronto)

Toronto’s North York area is getting a massive new community and aquatic centre and a unique public park as a part of the community amenity benefits that are being created for the new Concord Park Place neighbourhood.

Vancouver-based developer Concord revealed further design perspectives of the new 209,000-sq-ft Bessarion Community Centre (BCC) today, which will be located on a parcel of land on a former Canadian Tire-owned property – 1011 Sheppard Avenue East – given to the city by the developer for such uses. It is situated immediately adjacent to Bessarion subway station.

Artistic rendering of Bessarion Community Centre Toronto

Artistic rendering of Bessarion Community Centre. (City of Toronto)

Earlier this year, the City of Toronto awarded an $85-million contract to Eastern Construction Company Limited to build the three-storey BCC. In addition to the land, Concord has also provided funding to cover some of the project’s construction costs.

The facilities include:

13,000-sq-ft public library
6,400-sq-ft publicly-owned childcare facility with a capacity for 52 children
38,000-sq-ft recreation component with a double gymnasium, change rooms, indoor running and walking track, fitness studio, weight room, art rooms, preschool, games room, community hall with kitchen, and multi-purpose rooms
27,000-sq-ft aquatic centre with a six-lane, 25-metre length pool and a leisure pool with water play features
Commercial underground parking lot with 196 vehicle spaces operated by the Toronto Parking Authority

Artistic rendering of Bessarion Community Centre. (City of Toronto)

There is an emphasis on creating an environmentally-friendly building, with a large rooftop solar farm as one of the structure’s green design aspects.

Artistic rendering of Bessarion Community Centre. (City of Toronto)

Artistic rendering of Woodsy Park at Concord Park Place in North York, Toronto. (Concord)

When complete in 2021, this will be the largest comprehensive community Centre in Toronto.

An adjacent eight-acre public park dubbed Woodsy Park currently under construction is slated to open next year, months ahead of schedule.

Overall, Concord Park Place spans 45 acres, and will include over 5,000 homes for as many as 10,000 residents. In addition to the community centre, residents will also have access to private residential amenities such as bowling lounges, billiards room, a tennis court, outdoor fitness zone, swimming pools, gardens, children’s play area, yoga and fitness studios, and indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton.

Artistic rendering of Concord Park Place in North York. (Concord)

Toronto's largest community centre to be built in North York (RENDERINGS)

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