St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish
North York, Ontario
2007 Religious Art and Architecture Merit Award for Religious Architecture, New Facilities
2007 Ontario Concrete Awards: Architectural Merit Award
2007 City of Toronto Green Design Award
NEW CONSTRUCTION
RELIGIOUS
This new 750 seat church is designed to embody the eco-theology of Passionist Father Thomas Berry and is the first worship space in Canada to achieve LEED™ Gold Certification for its sustainable design.
In contrast to most churches that are inward looking, St Gabriel’s Church features a large glass façade to the south overlooking a garden planted on the roof of below grade parking. The glazing passively harnesses the winter sun’s heat and visually extends the sacred space of the worship area into the sacred space of the world beyond. The remaining three walls serve as a neutral canvas for the dynamic play of sunlight filtered through a continuous skylight incorporating coloured glass by artist David Pearl.