Construction concludes at Union Station
After more than 10 years and more than $800 million, construction work at Toronto’s Union Station is finally complete.
Toronto Mayor John Tory was among a handful of delegates on site to announce the reopening of the revitalized Bay Concourse at Union Station. The event marked the completion of the Union Station Revitalization Project (USRP).
The station, which is Canada’s busiest multimodal passenger transportation hub and typically serves more than 300,00 visitors daily, saw renovation work begin in 2010. At the time, the project was considered one of the most complicated construction works in the country, wedged into one of the most congested parts of Toronto, and taking place while maintaining operation of one of the busiest commuter hubs in North America.
At a final cost of $824 million, the project entailed significant work. It increased gross floor area by 14 percent. It more than tripled the capacity of GO Concourses with the completion of the York Concourse and the revitalized Bay Concourse, and added approximately 14,900 square metres of new retail space—including a new retail level under the concourses. It also included a new food court, a revitalized VIA Concourse and Panorama Lounge, expanded PATH access and two new bike parking stations, all while restoring and preserving heritage elements throughout the station.
At approximately 5,600 square metres, the new Bay Concourse is more than 50 percent larger than its original footprint. The concourse connects to the Bay retail area as well as to the TTC, the Union Food Court and the future Fresh Market.
“After years of extensive work on this difficult project, the Union Station revitalization is now complete, and the last piece of the revitalization – the Bay Concourse – is opening to the public today,” said Tory. “Union Station is now ready to more completely welcome people back to downtown Toronto and back to work as we move ahead with the reopening. Now, Union Station is a place where residents, commuters and tourists can choose to hang out, shop, dine and experience unique art and culture installations and performances all while having access to an extensive transit system that stretches across Toronto and beyond our city.”
The City of Toronto says minor updates and cosmetic work will continue until the end of July, at which point the project will conclude.
The USRP was supported by investments of $465.3 million from the City of Toronto, $139.5 million from the Government of Canada, $191.8 million from the Government of Ontario and $24.9 million from VIA Rail. The project has created thousands of jobs throughout its lifecycle.