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Project Overview
At 2 Gibbs Road in Etobicoke, Valhalla Town Square Phase 1 introduced a new public realm landscape within a dense urban development context. With pedestrian movement, paved surfaces, and infrastructure requirements shaping the site, the project needed a tree planting approach that could perform long-term—without compromising hardscape stability.
Working within City of Toronto requirements and review processes, the project team delivered 50 new trees supported by engineered below-ground systems. The result is a streetscape and plaza environment designed to establish canopy in conditions where traditional, compacted tree pits often limit growth and lifespan.
A renewed public realm at Valhalla Town Square Phase 1, integrating trees into a hardscape-dominant urban setting.
A Streetscape Rooted in Function
Urban tree planting succeeds or fails below ground. In high-traffic public realm environments, soil is often compacted to support pavements—leaving limited space for roots to expand, access oxygen, and manage moisture. Over time, this can restrict canopy growth and increase the risk of pavement conflict.
At Valhalla Town Square, the planting strategy was organized across eight treepit zones (A–H), establishing a repeatable framework for integrating trees across the site while managing constrained conditions.
Engineering Life Below the Surface
To support healthy tree establishment within paved areas, the project incorporated Citygreen systems to create protected, functional rooting environments under load-bearing surfaces.
The documented Citygreen solution included:
- Stratavault Generation 6 (primary soil vault system)
- Stratacell 30 Series (SC250) (used in more constrained areas)
- RootStop RSB1200 root barrier
- FilterGrid non-woven filter fabric
- Miradrain 9900 drainage board
- PVC soil inspection ports
- Integrated sub-soil drainage system
Across the eight zones (A–H), this approach supported an estimated 40–50 treepits, enabling a consistent strategy for tree performance and hardscape durability.
Species Selection
The planting palette documented in the project information includes:
- Acer spp. (Maples)
- Ginkgo biloba
- Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
- Quercus spp. (Oaks)
This mix supports canopy form and resilience while helping diversify the streetscape planting.
Outcomes & Lessons
Urban Place-Making
Transforms a hardscape-heavy development edge into a greener, more comfortable public realm with long-term streetscape character.
Tree Health + Pavement Strength
Demonstrates how protected soil and root management strategies support tree establishment in load-bearing, paved conditions.
Repeatable Design Framework
The A–H zone approach provides a scalable model for distributing tree infrastructure across an entire site rather than treating each tree as an isolated detail.
Practical Long-Term Management
Elements such as inspection ports and integrated drainage support ongoing maintenance visibility and performance.The plaza, while modest, serves as a gateway node in this emerging green corridor as a place to rest, gather, and enjoy the urban landscape.
Looking Ahead
Valhalla Town Square Phase 1 reflects a practical shift in urban landscape delivery: prioritising what happens below the pavement to improve what the public experiences above it. By supporting trees with engineered underground systems, the project sets up the planting to mature into meaningful canopy—strengthening the public realm over time.
