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BeneathÌýthe congested sidewalks of downtown Toronto is an expanding undergroundÌýpedestrian network spanning 30 kilometres, the largest urban infrastructure ofÌýits kind.ÌýÌýBranded as the PATH, it doesÌýnot provide a clear path to theÌýmajor destinations it connects.ÌýÌýIt is a non-place; a labyrinth of shoppingÌýcentres, each privately owned by competing developers with the intent toÌýdisorient and trap consumers within their property.Ìý

Repeated efforts by the city to promoteÌýthe PATH and allow it to be read as a single entity have been thwarted by theÌýdevelopers whose self-interests outweigh the importance of the largerÌýnetwork.ÌýÌýInconspicuous street entrancesÌýaddÌýto the problem, preventing the PATH from becoming a viable alternative toÌýstreet level sidewalks during the harsh winter months, humid summer days andÌýthe odd thundershower.ÌýÌýDaily commutersÌýwho have memorized specific routesÌýremain the most prevalent user group whileÌývisitors from out of town struggle to find the Eaton Centre from Union Station.
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Accepting that the PATH is a collection ofÌýprivate spaces and not a public urban condition, this thesis explores theÌýpossibility of unifying its fragments with minimal architectural incisions thatÌýwould surgically mend the system.ÌýÌýTraversing the subterranean PATH would be facilitated by creating aÌýpermanent and legible navigation pattern within the tunnels, solving theÌýproblem of spatial orientation by intensely engaging the user’s directÌýexperience throughÌýsensory-based design.ÌýÌýSurface pavilions would provide visible access points from street levelÌýwhile protrusions from the underground would open up the PATH to naturalÌýlight.ÌýÌýThe goal of these strategicÌýalterations is to achieveÌýeffective utilization of the PATH by a full spectrumÌýof people, easing the pedestrian traffic flow through the downtown core.