Stadium City: A Modern Re-Imagination and the Sports Complex

Abstract

Sport can unify cities and people in unique ways. From pick-up games in neighbourhoods and parks, to various leagues, public sporting events can build and strengthen the collective civic pride and solidarity of a city. Cities, invest millions of dollars in building stadiums for major sporting events such as the Olympics etc. While these stadiums are often lively during sporting events and sit abandoned when sporting seasons are over. Rarely, open to the public, these stadiums stay empty and their potential use is never fully realised. This thesis re-imagines these venues as a multi-sport facility and introduces an initial planning strategy that is inviting to the inhabitants of the city. Located in Toronto, this stadium acts as a node within a multifunctional world of sport which is open to the public and promotes healthy activities and civic belonging. The thesis concentrates on the design of a single, multi-purpose sports building.