Advanced Studio II
Project Type
Research and Publication
Year
Winter 2025
Client /Professor
PrideTO | Professor Victor Amado-Perez
Role
Designer, Photographer, Researcher
ABSTRACT
This project was developed as part of the PLG720 Urban Design Studio at Toronto Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Pride Toronto. Titled Beyond the Rainbow, the initiative explores inclusive urban design strategies that improve both accessibility and sustainability across large-scale public festivals. Rooted in participatory planning and extensive site research, the project focused on reimagining Toronto’s Pride Festival with holistic, actionable interventions. The work reflects our commitment to addressing systemic gaps in urban inclusivity through design, and represents a culmination of semester-long investigations into policy, site conditions, community narratives, and stakeholder interviews.
PROJECT BRIEF
Located in the Church-Wellesley Village, Toronto’s historic 2SLGBTQIA+ neighborhood, the site is an epicenter of Pride celebrations each summer. The area spans a mix of arterial roads (Church Street, Wellesley Street, Isabella Street), parks (Barbara Hall Park), and vibrant commercial corridors. The project analyzed the spatial, cultural, and environmental dynamics of the site, identifying gaps in accessibility, shade, seating, and wayfinding. Through photostudies, policy audits, and stakeholder engagement, the team evaluated how the festival space could better serve all ages, abilities, and identities within the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum.
SITE CONTEXT
DESIGN CONCEPT AND SOLUTIONS
The vision for Beyond the Rainbow centered on elevating Pride Toronto into a more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable celebration. Key design concepts included:
Mobility Mapping & Wayfinding: Washable ground paint trails, QR-coded digital maps, and alternate quieter laneways created a sensory-friendly and intuitive navigation system across the festival grounds.
Inclusive Programming Zones: Intergenerational gathering spaces, sensory-sensitive rest areas, and workshop zones for education and play helped diversify public engagement.
Eco-Friendly Interventions: Proposed solar-powered misting stations, reusable dishware initiatives, waste sorting stations, and green vendor partnerships supported environmental stewardship.
Accessibility Integration: Wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms, quiet spaces, increased riser capacity, and rest areas were designed to accommodate individuals with varying sensory and mobility needs.
Community Engagement: Inclusive advertisement strategies, art installations by local queer artists, and partnerships with The 519 and Indigenous-led groups ensured representative participation and storytelling.
IMPACT AND EVALUATION
The project redefined how urban festivals can serve as platforms for environmental resilience and social equity. By proposing spatial interventions that directly address real-world accessibility barriers and sustainability challenges, the report set a precedent for future event planning. The framework and recommendations presented in the final deliverable are scalable, data-informed, and rooted in lived experiences—from Indigenous representation to sensory-safe planning. This project amplifies the value of design justice in event planning, shaping a Pride experience that’s truly for everyone.
REFLECTION
Beyond the Rainbow challenged us to think beyond typical festival planning. For me personally, the project bridged creative placemaking with systemic urban reform. As an urban design student with an architectural lens, I was particularly moved by how spatial equity manifests in real-world experiences—whether through a ramp that’s missing, a map that’s unreadable, or a seat that’s never available. This project gave us a rare opportunity to not only analyze but also co-imagine how Toronto can celebrate Pride with dignity, diversity, and design excellence at the forefront.
Credits:
Client & Acknowledgments:
Pride Toronto – For project collaboration and provision of pre-research resources
Executive Director: Kojo Modeste
Instructor:
Professor Victor Perez-Amado
School of Urban and Regional Planning
Toronto Metropolitan University
My Role: Orcel Manalang – Design, Graphics, Research, Photographer, Gantt Chart Administrator
Team Members & Roles:
Nina Milinković – Overall Lead, Design, Graphics, Research
Niki Abdollahi Tanha – Research, Presentation Lead, Acting Project Manager
Aleks Kalinowski – Design, Graphics, Research, Mapping
Alex Ortiz – Research
Andres Larios – Research
Jacob Teodoro – Research
Kameron Hamlet – Design, Graphics, Research
Laurent Pastour – Research
Olivia Szuszkiewicz – Design, Graphics, Research
Will Ramalheiro – Mapping, Research
