The City of Edmonton’s Urban Design Awards winners were recently announced and celebrated. The jury gave out five awards of excellence and three awards of merit to architects and designers who developed distinctive concepts in six categories.
“Edmonton’s Urban Design Awards broaden the dialogue about the value of good design and its importance in creating more enduring, distinct and memorable urban places that make up a great city,” says Toronto urban designer Mark Reid, one of this year’s judges. “Congratulations to all the award recipients on their significant achievement in advancing the art of city-building.”
The five awards of excellence winners are as follows. The Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre and Edmonton Eskimo Field House by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects and HIP Architects in the Urban Architecture category; Talus Dome by the Edmonton Arts Council/Ball Nogues Studio in the Urban Fragments category; Dirt City :: Dream City by the Edmonton Arts Council in the Community-Based Projects category: LIVINGbridge by Chelsea Boos, Carmen Douville Erin Ross also in the Community-Based Projects category; and Rossdale Park and Interpretive Centre by Teague McCrae in the Student Projects category.
The three awards of merit went to: Jasper Place Library by Dub Architects and Hughes Condon Marler Architects in the Urban Architecture category; the Alberta Hotel by Dub Architects also in the Urban Architecture category; Edmonton Clinic Site Development by DIALOG in the Civic Design category.
For the first time, the public had a chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award. The all-new category was created to recognize examples of good urban design that have had a transformative impact on the quality of life in Edmonton. With over 400 votes, the People’s Choice Award went to MacEwan University downtown.
“Urban design and architectural excellence play an important role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in our city,” says Gary Klassen, General Manager of the City’s Sustainable Development Department. “It’s important to celebrate achievements in building a livable, sustainable, beautiful city through excellent urban design and appealing public spaces.”
Some of Canada’s top design professionals were among the visiting panel of judges, including Jill Anholt, public artist and principal of Jill Anholt Studio in Vancouver; Margot Long, landscape architect and partner of PWL Partnership in Vancouver; Sasa Radulovic, architect, cofounder and partner of 5468796 Architecture in Winnipeg; Mark Reid, urban designer, planner, landscape architect and partner of Urban Strategies Inc. in Toronto; and Gilles Saucier, architect, cofounder and partner of Saucier + Perrotte Architects in Montreal.
The City of Edmonton and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Alberta Chapter host the Urban Design Awards together every two years. The first awards were presented in 2005.
For more information, please visit www.edmonton.ca/urbandesignawards.