Say hello to the future. A “cutting-edge community” could be coming to the town of Innisfil, just outside of Barrie, and it’ll be one-of-a-kind, to say the least. The community, appropriately called The Orbit, will “orbit” Innisfil’s new GO station and will serve as a hub for local shops, businesses, and activities.

Just this week, the province created a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) for the region, allowing the Innisfil GO station to be built faster and for developers to continue moving forward on their plans for The Orbit, according to Barrie360. Minister of  Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, that the MZO will “get shovels in the ground quickly on important projects that will benefit residents for generations.”

The new hub is being planned by the Toronto-based architecture studio PARTISANS. This studio has futuristic projects on the go for Toronto as well, like a stunning “vertical neighbourhood” at 55 Yonge Street.

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PARTISANS plans to bring that same modern flair to the sleepy suburbs of Simcoe County. The sleek designs for The Orbit are worthy of their own sci-fi movie, with the transit station at its centre and unique buildings and spacious walkways all around it. It’ll make the new upgrades to Union Station look average at best.


“Living at the Orbit means residents would no longer have to travel to Barrie or Toronto, thanks to a full suite of amenities, including designed for local entrepreneurs and traditional and non-traditional industries, year-round sports and recreational options, arts and culture spaces and more,” says Innisfil’s website.

PARTISANS says that The Orbit will allow for rapid but “responsible growth” to prevent urban sprawl, focusing on sustainability and technology. It will also “prioritize public transit and walkability over dependence on cars.”

Curiocity Staff

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