The Oculus

Heritage Revitalization

Project Date of Completion: September 30, 2021

Built in 1959, the Oculus is a fantastical space-age pavilion designed by architect Alan Crossley and engineer Laurence Cazaly. While it stands out as a unique modernist structure, the sculptural quality and use of concrete represents a generation of ambitious and optimistic civic projects built in the 1950’s and 1960’s across Canada. Over the last two decades, the pavilion has suffered significant neglect and disuse. This revitalization project focused on transforming the Oculus into a space for recreation, arts, and performances by restoring and cleaning the existing pavilion, conserving its cultural heritage value, and implementing new contextual outdoor furniture.

The project included a light restoration, bringing the exterior back to its original designed condition. New custom designed rectangular concrete benches were added, responding to the geometric composition of the pavilion. While restoration was a key part of the Oculus revitalization project, ensuring that the space is welcoming, inclusive, and functional was just as important.