Bank of Canada Plaza Garden

The Bank of Canada Plaza is a public gathering space and extension of the Sparks Street Mall. With the terraced seating on the green roof of the Museum pyramid, the plaza is a better place than ever to share lunch with colleagues or enjoy the sunshine.

The Bank invested significantly in public spaces as part the recent renewal of its head office. First is the reimagined and expanded Bank of Canada Museum, which is available free of charge to the general public and provides direct education through interactive exhibits, the National Currency Collection and other programming. The Museum is located underneath the east plaza of the facility and features an easy-to-spot entrance (in the shape of a pyramid) at the corner of Bank and Wellington streets.

The second is the Bank of Canada plaza itself, prominently located along the ceremonial and discovery route called “Confederation Boulevard.” The plaza was redesigned to improve accessibility, safety, and functional qualities. It now serves as a vibrant, outdoor presentation space – landscaped with bleacher-style seating and greenery – where residents, visitors, and Bank employees can gather and enjoy the outdoors. The plaza was originally built as part of the Bank’s renovations in the 1970s, under the direction of renowned architect Arthur Erickson. However, Erickson’s original vision for this outdoor space was never fully realized. The new iteration, completed by architectural firm Perkins + Will in 2016, was influenced by the Canada Pavilion designed by Erickson for the Osaka World Expo in 1970. The dark bronze metal and angled glass of the three pyramid structures is inspired by the glass towers of the Bank’s head office, while the green-black granite (sourced from Quebec) is a nod to Erickson’s original design for the plaza. Lastly, two glass columns add visual interest and night lighting.