Deaf Culture Centre

The Deaf Culture Centre engaged Quadrangle to create a new welcoming and engaging facility for the Deaf Community and visitors to learn about the Deaf culture and achievements. Located in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, the Centre is a retrofit of a historically significant heritage building. With an ambitious programme and the constraints of limited space, Quadrangle’s design carefully combines the Centre’s functional requirements to create an exciting multi-use environment. The open concept of the ground floor functions as an exhibit area that can be used for events, serves as a kitchen for cooking demonstrations, a gathering space for large groups and a gift shop. The second floor houses the Centre’s offices, archives, open multimedia studio and amultifunction boardroom. Using design elements such as moveable walls and screens, the Centre’s space can expand or contract to accommodate groups of two to two hundred people. The design approach addressed the unique considerations of Deaf people through design, layout, organization and visual diction. Central to this approach is the use of a sophisticated yet vibrant colour palette that directly addresses the user’s need to relate to the space visually. Other considerations include ledges placed throughout the Centre so that hands can be free for signing and glass panels between offices to create sightlines for communication. In addition, graphic elements derived directly from sign language, designed by Bruce Mau, are placed creatively throughout the building. These iconic symbols are artistic interpretations of the hand signs for the words Culture, Inspire, Resonate, Preserve, Fresh and Community.