Urban Strategies is honoured to be among the winners of the 2024 National Urban Design Awards for the Downsview Framework Plan, working with HLArchitects, KPMB Architects, and SLA for Northcrest Developments and Canada Lands Company / Société Immobilière du Canada. The honour is bestowed by RAIC – IRAC Canadian Institute of Planners Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.
Jury comments:
“Converting one of the largest contiguous spaces in Toronto into a nature-first community is ambitious. The 520-acre brownfield area comes with a strong history of an airport and requires a thoughtful re-integration of the city fabric across the lands. An ambitious goal that has been crafted by input from citizens, it is an example of how sustainable development can occur. Big ideas and aspirations are well bundled into this master plan with a strong focus on nature in the city. The plan focuses on six fundamental principles: nature, equity, accessibility, people, sustainable development, and transit proximity.”
“The framework plan demonstrates good analysis of the site and its context. The plan aims to incorporate sustainable principles, connect to its surroundings, integrate public transit into its design, and create walkable communities. This project is a demonstration of how a once-negative industrial site can be transformed into a valuable resource for future generations and should be used as an example for other municipalities.”