The City of Calgary has announced the winners of the 2019 Mayor’s Urban Design Awards (MUDA)
Every two years, the city seeks out the important contributions of designers, architects and artists that help improve the quality of life in Calgary through art and design.
“Recognizing the people behind our vibrant buildings and spaces in our city is important,” said David Down, the city’s chief urban designer, in a press release. “Well-designed space makes people feel welcome, improves safety and accessibility and creates a memorable sense of place.”
Ninety-eight submissions were judged in twelve categories that showcase some of the most innovative buildings and public spaces in Calgary. In addition, all citizens were encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice award, online.
Käthe Lemon, editor-in-chief of Calgary’s Avenue Magazine, was part of this year’s panel of judges. She explained how the city has tailored the awards to reflect Calgary, elevate overlooked design and generate discussion about the built environment.
“The city itself has directed some of the categories and has added quite a few in addition to the ones that come from National Urban Design Awards,” said Lemon. “For example, there’s an award called The Mawson, named after one of the first urban designers in Calgary. Their project never saw the light of day, but they have been very influential in show what can a city be and what makes a good city.”
Other categories celebrate conceptual designs that haven’t been built but are still pushing the envelop. Lemon also praised the city’s addition of the City Edge Development Award.
“The National Urban Design Awards focus on urban design but the city wanted to say, I think, is that great design can exist on the edge of a city,” Lemon said. “I think through those awards the city has been able to promote the best of what they are seeing.”
Lemon said she and the other judges were particularly impressed with West Eau Claire Park. The park, redeveloped after devastating floods, features pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, an architectural delta and art by local artists.
“What’s fascinating is that it’s a beautiful space along the river,” said Lemon. “It’s an area that needed to be developed following the floods, but what many might not know is that it very cleverly integrates flood mitigation efforts. If you walk through, you notice a beautiful space that plays off the landscape. The design ties into the ideas of river and water, but its levels also functionally protect the city. It is a combination of functional and beautiful space and it is very well used. Calgarians really feel it reflects their needs and it has a beautiful art piece integrated into it.”
The design incorporates flood mitigation elements like a flood wall with a bench, a raised promenade and cycle path and stepped terraces. The architectural delta, called the Delta Garden, is also a flood barrier integrated with raised topography and planters.
Lemon explained that in addition to celebrating Calgary design, the awards are an opportunity to get input from residents and experts about the direction the built environment is going in.
“Without an event this there is no reason to talk about buildings or what makes a successful landscape or design,” said Lemon. “It’s an opportunity to talk about direction the built environment is going, it’s an opportunity to be proud.”
Lemon added that with so many negative stories coming out of Alberta, it is good to celebrate the positive things.
“We are moving things forward, celebrating things built, things that are successful, and things conceived of. This also improves the design language Calgarians have. This is a conversation, but you also get to pick things. You get to say what good design for your city is.”
Here is the full list of winners and honourable mentions:
Conceptual/Theoretical Urban Design Projects
WINNER: 5th Street Underpass Enhancement
Owner: The City of Calgary
Architect: DIALOG & Jill Anholt Studio
Urban Design Plans
WINNER: 9th Avenue SE Master Plan
Owner: The City of Calgary
Architect: DIALOG
Honourable Mention: Rivers District Master Plan
Owner: Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC)
Lead Urban Designer/Landscape Architect: Civitas Inc.
Urban Architecture
WINNER: YW Calgary Hub Facility
Owner: YW Calgary
Architect: Kasian Architecture Interior Design
Landscape Architects: Scatliff+Miller+Murray
Honourable Mention: Noble
Owner: Truman Development Corporation
Planner: CivicWorks
Architects: S2 Architecture
Landscape Architects: Navagrah Landscape Architecture + Urban Design, HDR
Honourable Mention: Park Point
Owner: Qualex-Landmark
Architects: IBI/HB Architects
Civic Design Projects
WINNER: West Eau Claire Park
Owner: The City of Calgary
Architect: O2 Planning + Design
Honourable Mention: The Fourth Street SW Underpass Enhancement
Owner: The City of Calgary
Architects: the marc boutin architectural collaborative
Urban Fragments
WINNER: Delta Garden + The City Unseen
Artists: Caitland r.c. Brown & Wayne Garett
Landscape Architects: O2 Planning + Design
Honourable Mention: BRT Transitway Stations
Owner: The City of Calgary – Transit
Architects: GEC Architecture
Community Initiatives Award
WINNER: Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP)
Owner: Beltline Neighbourhoods Association
Project Designers: Peter Schryvers & Peter Oliver
Honourable Mention: Gopher Park
Project Designer: Community Partnership led by Cold Garden Brewery and Inglewood BIA
Honourable Mention: 17 Avenue SW Pocket Square
Owner: Cliff Bungalow/Mission Community Association and Calgary Board of Education
Designers: The Bench Project
Landscape Architects: Ground Cubed
The Mawson Urban Design Award
WINNER: New Central Library
Owner: The City of Calgary
Designers: Snøhetta & DIALOG
Honourable Mention: The Livery
Owner: Ansonia Properties
Architects: Modern Office of Design + Architecture
City Edge Development
WINNER: West District Master Plan
Owner: Truman Development CorporationPlanner: CivicWorks
Architects: S2 Architecture
Landscape Architects: Navagrah Landscape Architecture + Urban Design, HDR
Honourable Mention: Attabotics HQ
Owner: Attabotics Inc.
Architects: Modern Office of Design + Architecture
Honourable Mention: Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School
Owner: Calgary Board of EducationArchitects: Gibbs Gage Architects
Honourable Mention: University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Clinical Skills Building Expansion
Owner: University of Calgary
Architects: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Great City, Great Design
WINNER: The Sunalta Community Hub
Owner: The City of Calgary and Sunalta Community Association
Architects: the marc boutin architectural collaborative
Honourable Mention: Vecova Centre For All Abilities
Owner: Vecova
Architect: GEC Architecture
Honourable Mention: East Village Dog Park
Owner: Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC)
Project Designer: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Green City
WINNER: Mackimmie Complex And Professional Facilities Building Redevelopment Project
Owner: University of Calgary
Architect: DIALOG
Housing Innovation
WINNER: Rosedale Affordable Housing
Owner: The City of Calgary – Affordable HousingArchitect: FAAS Architecture
Honourable Mention: LifeOwner: RNDSQR
Architect: 5468796 Architecture
Planner CivicWorks
Honourable Mention: Cube
Owner: Strategic Group
Architects: Zeidler Architects
Student Projects
WINNER: Reimagine Catwalks
Designers: Leticia Chapa & Taylor Felt
Honourable Mention: Transitioning: Streetcar Reminiscence Plaza
Designer: Thu Ngo
Honourable Mention: Connectivity
Designer: Raiyan UI Momin
People’s Choice Awards:
Personal Care Building
Architect: FarMor Architecture
New Central Library
Architects: Snøhetta + DIALOG
The Ivy
Owner: Brookfield Residential
Designer: Stantec Consulting Ltd
Attabotics
Owner: Attabotics Inc
Architect: Modern Office of Design + Architecture
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