Friday, October 29, 2021

Winners announced for the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards

MARKHAM, ON – October 29, 2021 – The City of Markham honoured winners of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards at a virtual Awards Gala last night attended by Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Regional and City Councillors, City Staff and members of the Jury. Five juried awards and the People’s Choice Award were named to recognize the best of Markham’s buildings and public spaces.

Markham has a longstanding tradition of celebrating design excellence and this year’s Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards honours those in our community making significant contributions to our public realm and urban form,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “The City of Markham extends our sincere appreciation to design leaders that are putting Markham on the map. Congratulations to award recipients and all nominees for submitting their projects for consideration."

Awards were made in five categories:

Aaniin Community Centre and Library at 5665 14th Avenue won the Building of Significance Award that recognizes a building of at least 3 stories that responds to local context and integrates into the community through design. The jury commended the design features and level of detail that the building achieved in terms of scale and variety and the thoughtfulness given to the integration with the exterior space, connectivity, abundance of natural lighting, and consistency in the architectural language.
Wong Dai Sin Temple at 378 Steeles Avenue East won the Institutional Building Award to recognize a civic building (cultural building, school or scientific building) that has become a new icon or City landmark and an example of beautiful and well-crafted design. Jury members commended this elegant building’s craftsmanship, with every detail considered in terms of colour and scale. They were impressed by the good use of space and intent to take advantage of a small site by stacking the building above the open space in a very compelling manner. The building was also unexpected but captured beauty and spiritual essence in a nuanced way.
Remington’s Downtown Precinct in Downtown Markham won the Community Design Award to recognize a compact, pedestrian-friendly community that fosters a sense of place. The jury commended the large mixed-use community with a variety of buildings, green spaces and streetscapes, and neighbourhood amenities, and especially admired the connectivity and emphasis on transit and walkability. They felt that this was an excellent example of urban placemaking from scratch.
Milne Dam and Milne Creek Cable-Stayed Bridges in Milne Dam Conservation Park won the Open Space & Public Realm Award to recognize a park, plaza, facility or landscaped area with a fresh and new approach to the treatment of open spaces. Jury members commended the project’s environmental sustainability, which offered a unique pedestrian experience while ensuring minimal disturbance to the natural elements. This project succeeded in bringing accessibility and connectivity to the path and trails of the Rouge River system and used materials that will look spectacular in all seasons.
York Condos at 10 Rouge Valley Drive West won the Urban Intensification Award to recognize infill, mixed-use or transit-oriented development that exemplifies place-making and efficient use of public infrastructure to reinforce the public realm. The jury commended the diversity and playfulness in the architectural expression that this project offered. It achieved the tenets of urban intensification in terms of scale and created a variety of built form that is appropriate for its surroundings. The building façade mixes windows, walls and balconies to achieve lightness and views from the inside while supporting sustainable building practices

The Milne Dam and Milne Creek Cable-Stayed Bridges won the inaugural People’s Choice Award, receiving the most public votes cast from October 4 to 22 from amongst 23 buildings and public spaces that were past winners as well as entries for this year’s Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards.

“We are pleased to join the jury of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards to recognize our six winners. Markham’s built environment continues to grow with our community and express our aspirations even as it links us to our history and identity. These winning buildings and public spaces, and their designers, clearly demonstrate creativity and innovation that contribute to the evolving identities of our neighbourhoods and our growing city,” said Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Chair of Markham’s Development Services Committee.

The 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards jury members are:

Chair Eha Naylor, Partner, Dillon Consulting Limited
Joy Chabronneau, Associate, Gensler Architecture & Design Canada Inc.
Mansoor Kazerouni, Global Director of Architecture, IBI Group
Carol Phillips, Partner, Moriyama & Teshima Architects
Rudy Wallman, Principal, Wallman Architects
Richard Witt, Principal, BDP Quadrangle

They were supported by the City of Markham’s Awards Committee:

Ronji Borooah, City Architect
Parvathi Nampoothiri, Urban Design Manager
Halley Patel, Urban Design Coordinator
Michelle Wong, Urban Design Planner

“I want to express my deep appreciation to the jury of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards for their valuable time, professional expertise and hard work, and congratulate them for arriving at five very thoughtful choices that exemplify the best in city building through urban design and placemaking. I also want to thank the Awards Committee for organizing this competition and for supporting the jury every step pf the way,” said Arvin Prasad, Commissioner of Development Services. “The calibre of the winners stands as a testament to the urban design excellence encouraged by the City of Markham, and I am delighted that residents joined us in enjoying and recognizing the importance of design in their everyday lives by voting in the first-ever People’s Choice Award.”

The Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards are competition-based awards which recognize and promote excellence in building design and placemaking. Industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, heritage, open space and public realm projects completed in the City of Markham before August 27, 2021 and within the last six years were eligible for consideration for this year’s juried Awards.

The Awards were first held in 1999 to celebrate quality design and the passion, hard work and talent of the people who make up the urban design industry in the City of Markham.

For more information, visit markham.ca/DesignExcellenceAwards.

Aaniin Community Centre and Library

Aaniin Community Centre and Library, winner of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards' Building of Significance Award.

Wong Dai Sin Temple

Wong Dai Sin Temple, winner of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards' Institutional Building Award.

Remington’s Downtown Precinct

Remington’s Downtown Precinct, winner of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards' Community Design Award.

Milne Dam and Milne Creek Cable-Stayed Bridges

Milne Dam and Milne Creek Cable-Stayed Bridges, winner of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards' Open Space & Public Realm Award and the inaugural People's Choice Award.

York Condos

York Condos, winner of the 2021 Markham Urban Design Excellence Awards' Urban Intensification Award.

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff at bfrois@markham.ca or 416.567.1177.

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Jennifer Yap, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations at jyap@markham.ca or 437.229.2450.

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About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 351,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 240 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.

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