From a field of 31 international architectural firms that originally expressed interest in the Visitor Centre Competition, five teams were invited to make conceptual design proposals. After being displayed at a public open house, the anonymous designs were reviewed by a jury, which included George F. Dark, Antonio Gomez-Palacio, Rick Haldenby, Rocco Maragna, Marianne McKenna, Charles Pachter and Anthony Tung.

The proposal submitted by du Toit Architects located the Visitor Centre outside the Fort, in a “zone of disturbance” beneath the Gardiner Expressway and introduces the visitors to the intriguing story of Fort York while providing a focus and meeting place for the precinct and its emerging community

Fort York is the birthplace of urban Toronto and the site of Canada's largest collection of 1812-era military structures. The Visitor Centre is key to the planned revitalization of the entire 17-hectare site, and is scheduled for completion in 2012 for the Bicentennial Commemoration of the War of 1812.