Scarborough Civic Centre looks set to be legally protected — and that’s good news for Toronto
Real Estate
Scarborough Civic Centre looks set to be legally protected — and that’s good news for Toronto
The City is moving to designate the Scarborough Civic Centre as a heritage site, shielding Moriyama’s futuristic 1973 design from future redevelopment.
Real Estate
Scarborough Civic Centre looks set to be legally protected — and that’s good news for Toronto
The City is moving to designate the Scarborough Civic Centre as a heritage site, shielding Moriyama’s futuristic 1973 design from future redevelopment.
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By Torontoer Staff
If you’ve wandered through Albert Campbell Square or driven past 150 Borough Dr., you know the Scarborough Civic Centre doesn’t look like the rest of downtown Toronto. It still feels a little futuristic, a touch theatrical — and now the City wants to make sure it stays that way.
Owned by the City of Toronto itself, the Civic Centre is being pushed for heritage designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. In other words, municipal officials are essentially taking steps to protect this local landmark from any future redevelopment — even if that redevelopment would one day come from City Hall.
Why the Scarborough Civic Centre matters
Built in 1973 and designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, the Civic Centre served as Scarborough’s city hall until the 1998 amalgamation. Since then it’s kept a civic role — housing Toronto District School Board offices and the Scarborough Community Council — but its significance goes beyond municipal paperwork. It’s a piece of Toronto’s postwar optimism and an example of civic architecture that aimed to make public life visible and ceremonial.
"[Moriyama] intended the building's design to serve as an opportunity to explore the meaning of democracy at the municipal level through architectural form and its open spaces."
City of Toronto report
That phrasing comes from the City’s own heritage report, which argues the Civic Centre has cultural heritage value worth protecting. It’s notable that this nomination is happening even though the building is relatively young by heritage standards — it turns 53 in 2026 — but age isn’t the only measure. For many of us who grew up or work in Scarborough, the Civic Centre is a local landmark and a reminder that Toronto’s urban story isn’t just about the lakefront and downtown towers.
What makes the building so distinctive
Architecturally, the Civic Centre sits in the Modern Expressionist lane: bold geometric shapes, strong massing and theatrical public space. Moriyama arranged the building around a circular central core with four extending quadrants — two half-pyramid office wings and two open civic spaces that frame Albert Campbell Square and the Ceremonial Plaza.
"A bold expression of individualism and design concept and is distinct by its geometric shapes and massive forms."
City of Toronto report
That combination of civic plaza and sculptural building gives the site a presence you don’t always see in suburban municipal buildings. If you’re someone who likes hidden gems — the kind of mid-century and brutalist-leaning architecture that sparks heated photo threads online — this is one to love (or at least notice next time you’re driving through Scarborough Centre).
A history of near-misses — and what designation would change
This isn’t the first time the Civic Centre has been eyed for protection. Back in 2002, City Council adopted a Notice of Intention to Designate the building, but the bylaw never came into force and the structure remained without formal protection. Fast-forward to now, and the City is moving again — this time with a formal recommendation to designate under the Ontario Heritage Act.
- Designation would recognise the building’s cultural heritage value and help prevent demolition without a formal review.
- Major alterations would generally need heritage approval, making wholesale redevelopment less likely.
- It signals municipal recognition that Scarborough’s public architecture is part of Toronto’s shared story.
The proposal will be considered by the Toronto Preservation Board on Jan. 19, 2026. If the board moves it forward, the usual municipal process — consultations, council votes and potential public input — will follow. Because the City owns the site, the designation is essentially the City deciding to limit its own future options for the site in order to preserve a civic landmark.
Why this matters for neighbourhoods and everyday Toronto life
Protecting the Scarborough Civic Centre is as much about community memory as it is about bricks and concrete. Albert Campbell Square hosts markets, community gatherings and protests; it’s a familiar backdrop for local events. When you protect a space like this, you’re preserving the places where neighbourhood life happens.
For people who live, work or go to school in Scarborough — from Kennedy Road to the Scarborough Bluffs — this building is part of the local identity. Heritage designation would help ensure that future redevelopment in the area respects that identity rather than erasing it for a new tower or office complex.
If you care about Toronto’s architectural variety or simply enjoy a good piece of civic theatre, keep an eye on the Preservation Board meeting in January. And next time you’re in Scarborough Centre, take a walk through Albert Campbell Square and look up — there’s history up there worth noticing.
Whether you love or loathe the style, the Scarborough Civic Centre is a reminder that Toronto’s architectural story is layered and local. Designation won’t freeze the site in amber, but it will make sure any future changes are thoughtful, public-facing and respectful of the building’s place in the city’s story.
ScarboroughheritagearchitectureRaymond MoriyamaToronto
