Construction complete!

Thank you to everyone who provided their feedback on this project. We're happy to share that the new shade structures at Waterloo Public Square are now installed. The square is still under construction as we continue to work on the new fountain.

About the design of the new shade structures:

The design for these structures draws on the industrial origins of the town square. Once home to factories including the company that made the famous Waterloo Thresher, the idea is that the materials of these structures could have been found among the remains of the steel and timber buildings of the time. Sprouting from the ground, they will provide dappled shade through reclaimed timber slats, which are shaped to provide a softer, more organic feel to the square.

Arching up overhead, they shade the steps of the square, while providing a sense of enclosure and scale that draws attention upwards and defines the square as its own space.

The materials used are selected with sustainability in mind, using a very simple palette of wood and steel. The wood is reclaimed from an old arena in Barrie, Ontario, and the structural steel can be recycled or repurposed easily. The materials were selected and designed to be easily replaceable or repurposed if needed.

A moveable shade element will also be coming to the square, towards the end of the summer 2023.

New shade structures at Waterloo Public Square, made with timber slats in the shape of five sprouting leaf-like structures.