Twelve years since planning began, the City of Toronto finally has a plan to replace the 1967 North Building at the Saint Lawrence Market. The culmination of an international design competition is a win for the design put forward by Toronto-based Adamson Associate Architects and London-based Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

Adamson's work includes the recently completed 30-storey Telus House office tower here in Toronto, while Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is the home of Sir Richard Rogers, on of the world's most famous and revered architects, the designer of such buildings as the Lloyd's Bank in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Richard Paul, partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is lead architect on the project. Mayor David Miller made the announcement of the winner in the current north market building before members of the public, the market merchants' association, community activists, and the media, in an event emceed by local historian Bruce Bell. A poll at UrbanToronto correctly predicted that the winner would be the design by the 'Red Team' in the blind competition. The building, housing market space on the ground floor and mezzanine, and court space on the upper four floors, will be glazed on all sides, allowing in substantial natural light. Courtrooms on the top floor will will be bathed in indirect northern light from rooftop skylights. Underground parking will be provided on 4 levels beneath the complex. The project is expected to cost $60 Million and should be complete in 2014. Architect David Jansen, partner at Adamson Associates, accepts congratulations from Mayor David Miller:

Image by Craig White

The model, from the east:

Image by Craig White

The model, from the south:

Image by Craig White

The model, from the northeast:

Image by Craig White

Some detailed plans of the winning entry:

More and larger images of the model, plans, and renderings of the St. Lawrence Market North Building can be found in UrbanToronto's thread for the project.