The City Present

Extended to August 10, 2025

A student-designed urban vision for Toronto’s west end

Presented by the students of The Orchard Lyceum

Curated by: Holly Venable

Art Direction: Sam Higgs and Sam Choisy

Architectural Consultant: Raymond Chow

THE CITY PRESENT is an imaginative and thoughtful art installation designed by students aged 10–14 from The Orchard Lyceum. This exhibition presents a visionary redesign of a real site currently under redevelopment near Lansdowne and Bloor, just east of the rail line.

Inspired by the Barcelona Superblock model, students co-created a complete urban community that reflects their priorities for the future, including:

• Environmental sustainability
• Social connection and benefit
• High standards of liveability
• Inclusive, intergenerational design

At the heart of the model are vibrant public spaces located on the ground floors of each building—featuring an art gallery, market, school, wellness centre, worship space, thrift store, library, animal shelter, and more. Each structure includes six residential floors, and the design is unified by a network of communal green spaces and walkways, encouraging connection and flow.

This project culminated in a residency at Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island, made possible through student-led fundraising at The Lyceum Bakery. During their stay, students built physical models and developed floor plans and artistic renderings, which will be on display at the exhibition.

The public is invited to the opening reception on Thursday, June 19 to view the installation and celebrate the vision, collaboration, and creativity of these young urban designers. The work will be shown against a landscape of surrealist mushroom sculptures blooming on the walls.