Toronto: middle city passages

Results of The Competition

Congratulations to DELVA Landscape Architects & plusofficearchitects with Ward Verdakel, Pieter Vandenhoudt, Rémi van Durme, Dorien Pelst, Steven Delva, Pieter Thews, Jens Jorritsma, Jelmar Brouwer, unanimously awarded for its project “On the way to Sheppard Park“.

An honorable mention was also given to the project Knuckles and jogs, by Michael Piper, Ultan Byrne, Roberto Damiani, We Michaels and Frank Ruchala

Thank to the 49 teams that took part in the competition and the 6 finalists – Knuckles and jogs (USA, CA, IT), One team (SVK), In praise of urban errors (I), Matthew Springett Associates Ltd. (UK) andThe open workshop + Surfacedesign inc. (CA/USA) that developed their ideas in a in situ workshop from 2 to 9 July 2015.

The winning team will be commissioned to undertake a client support role with the Metrolinx Design Department for the design of pedestrian and cycle access to the LRT stations.

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Passages Competition in Toronto

WHAT?

“Small suburban interventions with multiple impacts”
The multi-billion dollar investment in the expansion and improvement by Metrolinx of Toronto’s public transport system, provides an opportunity to combine a series of small, high-impact interventions with major infrastructure projects. How to design the interaction between the stops of the new LRT lines and local pedestrian routes, incorporating passages to improve urban life in the suburbs?

FOR WHOM?

International competition in two phases, open to young professionals and emerging practices in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, urban planning and related disciplines. Each team has to be multidisciplinary and should include, at least, one architect.

WHERE?

the competition will focus on developing strategic design proposals for two emblematic sites – Palmdale Drive and Agincourt Drive – on the new East Sheppard LRT line.

WHEN?

6 March 2015: registration opens; 30 April 2015: deadline for applications; 13 May 2015: announcement of the six finalist teams; 2-9 July 2015: workshop in situ; 9 July 2015: public presentation, final jury and prize award

JURY

Seven international experts: Andres Borthagaray (Director of IVM Latin America, Ar), Thierry Kandjee (landscape architect, FR), Harold Madi (CA, Director of Urban design, Municipality of Toronto) , Marcel Smets (architect, townplanner, president of IVM scientific council, chairman of the jury, BE), Richard Sommer (Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Toronto, CA), Leslie Woo (architect, Metrolinx, CA) and Mirko Zardini (Director of the Canadian Center of Architecture, CA).

PRIZE

6 selected teams will receive C$1,000 for their participation to the workshop.

AFTER THE COMPETITION?

The prize-winning team will be retained as a special advisor to Metrolinx’s Chief Design Excellence Officer to advance the design of walking and cycling access to transit stations and corridor rapid transit projects up to a value of $25,000.

Toronto Site’s Issues

The challenges: designing interactions between the rapid transit systems and local access routes; incorporating passages as integral components of the railway line and stations; helping to bring urban quality to suburban areas

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Toronto Coordination

Metrolinx : Leslie Woo, Amy Bath

University of Toronto : Richard Sommer,  Paul Hess, Mauricio Quiros

Expert IVM: Maarten Van Acker, architect, Teacher at Anvers University