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.