November 24, 2023
Edmonton’s top architects, designers, builders, artists and planners were celebrated on Friday night at the Edmonton Urban Design Awards gala. Awards were given in eight categories, as well as the People's Choice Award winner chosen by Edmontonians.
“The Edmonton Urban Design Awards is a reminder of the talent and creativity we possess here in Edmonton,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi who presented the awards Friday night. “These gifted professionals help to create a city that Edmontonians want to live in, and remind us that we all deserve beautiful, functional and sustainable urban design.”
The Awards were created in 2005 and have been held every two years (except 2021) since that time. Six Canadian and international architects, planners and artists served as the jury for this year’s awards.
In total, 57 submissions were received.
Winners Announced:
The categories, descriptions of categories and winners are as follows:
Civic Design: a civic project implemented as the result of an urban design plan or initiative.
Awards of Excellence:
- Edmonton City Hall Plaza and Fountain by GEC Architecture
- Kinistinâw Park by DIALOG
Award of Merit:
- Kihcihkaw askî by Reimagine Architects
Honourable Mention:
- Jasper Avenue New Vision by EDA Planning and Urban Design
Community Projects: any built project, however modest, initiated and implemented by a community-based organization that enhances the public realm.
Award of Excellence:
- Confetti (Michael Phair Park) by hcma Architecture and Design
Award of Merit:
- Tawatinâ Bridge by David Garneau
Heritage Projects: projects that demonstrate sensitivity and creativity in preserving the heritage values of a building or site.
Award of Excellence:
- The Strathcona by Hodgson Schilf Evans Architects
Awards of Merit:
- University Commons by GEC Architecture
- Gibbard Block Rehabilitation and Adaptive Re-use by Next Architecture
Honourable Mention:
- Westmount Substation by Hodgson Schilf Evans Architects
Housing Innovations: residential properties of a high architectural standard that demonstrate innovation in housing design and promote community health and wellbeing.
Awards of Excellence:
- The Mercury Block by Hodgson Schilf Evans
- T5M Connect North Glenora by T5M Connect
Sustainable Urbanism: including plans, studies, buildings, public spaces and other urban design interventions.
Award of Excellence:
- Strathcona Back Street by EDA Planning and Urban Design
Honourable Mention:
- Beaumaris Lake Open Space Rehabilitation by AECOM
Urban Architecture: an individual building or group of buildings of a high architectural standard. Design excellence is achieved through their unique relationship with their immediate surroundings because of their scale, visual interest, and pedestrian amenities.
Awards of Excellence:
- Stadium Station by GEC Architecture
- Roxy Theatre by Group2 Architecture and Interior Design
Awards of Merit:
- Stanley A. Milner Library by Teeple Architects
- Edmonton Law Courts Galleria Replacement by Next Architecture
- Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective by Rockliff Pierzchajlo Kroman Architects
- CO*LAB by Rockliff Pierzchajlo Kroman Architects
Honourable Mentions:
- Fort Edmonton Park Entry by Dub Architects
- Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage by GH3
- Edmonton Valley Zoo - Nature’s Wild Backyard by the marc boutin architectural collaborative
Urban Design Plans: recognizing a plan or study of a significant area within Edmonton that provides a development or redevelopment strategy for urban transformation in the mid to long-term.
Awards of Excellence:
- Students’ Boulevard by ISL Engineering and Land Services
- 100 Street Pedestrian Bridge by Entuitive
Honourable Mention:
- Boyle Street and McCauley Urban Design Analysis and Preliminary Design by EDA Planning and Urban Design
Urban Fragments: recognizing a single, small-scale piece of a building or landscape that contributes significantly to the quality of the public realm.
Award of Excellence:
- If the Drumming Stops (Mill Woods transit stop) by Tania Willard, Peter Morin and Cheryl L’Hirondelle
Honourable Mentions:
- CANOPY by Jonathan Monfries
- Highlands Corner Store by AECOM
People’s Choice Award: chosen by Edmontonians from all submissions.
- Roxy Theatre by Group2 Architecture Interior Design
