The design of Therme Canada | Ontario Place is grounded in the planned expansion of public park space, and honours and celebrates Ontario Place’s history, including the iconic heritage Pods and Cinesphere. It will create a year-round landmark waterfront destination reconnecting people to Lake Ontario.
The design weaves together three themes, expressed through architecture: the scale and spirit of exhibition pavilions; the restorative qualities of natural forms; and the transparency of greenhouse architecture. The goal of supporting body and spirit with wellness in an egalitarian, welcoming environment is infused throughout the design’s transparent and natural forms.
The Therme Entrance Pavilion and bridge from the mainland to the West Island will establish a new public presence along Lake Shore Boulevard West. They are envisioned to be a greenspace and public pathway that recreate the flow of the nearby Credit River, to honour its significance to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), who have lived and continue to live on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
The campus-style layout of the West Island introduces new public space to the site, including parks, rooftop trails and gardens, along with new public gathering spaces designed in partnership with the MCFN. Focusing on Indigenous place-making, the design of the public parklands creates opportunities for storytelling and culture through native plantings, spatial connections, and knowledge sharing elements, offering moments for visitors to engage with and learn about the land’s history.
The planned parklands and a new significantly expanded beach area surround the building and offer improved public access to the lake edge and wetlands as an extension of the William G Davis trail across the entire site, accessible to all.

At the heart of the project is an innovative wellness centre where visitors can enjoy thermal bathing, social saunas, pools, and relaxation areas that draw on global spa traditions. Three zones: Play, Relax, and Restore are housed in distinct vaulted glass volumes that blend nature and architecture creating a visual and physical connection with water. Focusing on fun, rest and relaxation, and restorative wellness the program pays tribute to the family-friendly water recreation that originally animated Ontario Place.

As the city continues to grow, access to health and wellness facilities and public green space to improve both physical and mental well-being is paramount. Therme Canada Ontario Place will bring important infrastructure and activity to Toronto’s waterfront, with access to nature and places for the community to engage.