The expansion of the Billy Bishop International Airport runway to accommodate jet traffic is an issue which will affect not only Toronto’s citizens, but the very shape of the city itself. This issue has inspired a spirited debate, with many public events and discussions dissecting the social, political, environmental and economic implications that expanding the runway might have.
On Thursday, May 28, 2015 at their third Urban Affairs Forum of 2015, the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) presents an evening of discussion regarding the crucial – but often overlooked – impact that an expanded runway and jet traffic would have over the design and planning of Toronto’s waterfront on a human, architectural and urban scale.
The goal of the discussion is to relate the development of urban transportation infrastructure to the design, planning and ultimately, usability of urban space and to instill the understanding that design-related issues are as crucial to this discourse as political and economic factors.
Guests are welcome to join the TSA for a Mix and Mingle starting at 6:00pm at the Harbourfront Community Centre Dance Studio, located at 627 Queens Quay West in Toronto. The forum will begin at 6:30pm and will include an introductory presentation by Ken Greenberg, Principal of Greenberg Consultants, Inc. and introductory comments by Robert Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines. A panel discussion will follow, featuring again Greenberg and Deluce, along with Brad Cicero, Director, Communications & Public Affairs, Porter Airlines; Bruno Weber, Associate, KPMB Architects; Svetlana Lavrentieva, Senior Associate, Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc.; and Ute Maya-Giambattista, Principal, SGL Planning & Design Inc. The panel will be moderated by Antonio Gomez-Palacio, Founding Partner, Dialog.
All those interested in the future of Toronto’s urban form and transportation infrastructure are invited to attend this exciting event. There is no charge for this event but space is limited, so please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tsa-urban-affairs-forum-toronto-island-airport-expansion-design-considerations-tickets-17029747433.