Hotel at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto: Stepping Up a Historic Racetrack

Development Background

The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto rises from the historic grounds of Woodbine Racetrack, a site that has shaped Canadian horse racing since 1956. The racetrack is renowned for hosting the King’s Plate, most notably in 1959 with the attendance of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. This tradition of prestige and cultural significance pave the way for a $1 billion development plan that has reimagined the site as one of North America’s premier entertainment destinations. At its heart stands the new hotel, a bold piece of architecture, minutes from the Pearson International Airport.

Architectural Design

The hotel’s design echoes the form of the racetrack grandstand through a stepped and cascading façade. This geometry introduces a sense of depth and rhythm that connects the new development to its historic setting while asserting a modern identity. The tiered silhouette ensures that the building resonates both with the legacy of the racetrack and the modern character of the resort complex.

Lighting Design

To articulate the stepped geometry, the architectural lighting design integrated luminous lines that emphasize the building’s sculptural form.

GVA Lighting supplied HIGHLIGHTER® MONO in DL-NICHE Configuration with Single Layer Diffuser, a solution designed to deliver soft, diffused direct-view delineation in tight spaces. This configuration fits seamlessly into narrow gaps and becomes part of the façade itself.

Installed along the edges of the cascading volumes, the luminaires create warm, 3000K delineation lines that sharpen the geometry and extend its presence into the nighttime cityscape while offering a distinctive and pleasant aesthetic.

Technology Integration

The system is powered by GVA’s 380V DC INFINITY® Power Supply System. It enables exceptionally long continuous runs and leader / jumper cables up to 100m in length. This approach provides enhanced efficiency, reliability, and a clean installation across the expansive façade.

COLOR-STREAM® technology adds advanced control, enabling liquid smooth dimming, precise transitions, and flexible programming. This allows the hotel to maintain a refined lighting programme for daily use, while offering the possibility of dynamic lighting scenes for special occasions and events.

Building with Light

As urban developments continue to embrace architectural lighting as an essential design element, this project demonstrates how such approach can reinforce architectural vision and elevate the guest experience.

At GVA Lighting, we are continuing to innovate and deliver advanced solutions that meet the demands of the industry, lead through design and technology, and create new beauty in the built environment with the power of light.

In total, GVA shipped: