After five years of planning, design and extensive interior, infrastructural and landscape renovations RTF’s flagship home and national headquarters is now open. VTLA, in collaboration with RTF and Hilditch Architects, has transformed an asphalt parking lot in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood into a flexible community space to support RTF’s visionary mandate and critical programming focused on raising awareness for Canada’s growing food insecurity crisis, and to support the communities of Downtown East Toronto with food programs and advocacy.

Inspired by RTF’s ‘Build-Share-Innovate-Activate’ mission, the landscape transformation includes habitat regeneration with native plant gardens and a series of vibrant spaces for innovative community-based programming to inspire visitors through all seasons. The outdoor spaces and gardens will add to the community’s strong sense of place, and build and celebrate community pride. Our strategic moves on the land informed by best practices standards set by the City of Toronto Green Standards and the City of Toronto Urban Forestry guidelines maximize the site potential by creating a welcoming, community-shared place for learning and discovery.