Calgary: Mayor’s 2022 Urban Design Awards

The Mayor’s Urban Design Awards (MUDA) which celebrate excellence in architecture, landscape and public space design, date back to 2005 and are a legacy of then Mayor Dave Broconnier.  The popularity of the awards is evident by the fact this year’s Gala was sold out.  There are 11 different award categories ranging from “City Edge Development” to “Housing Innovation” and from “Urban Architecture” to “Community Initiatives.”

Plaza by Truman

Truman Homes and Lola Architecture won the “City Edge Development” award this for their “Plaza” development in West District, a master-planned walkable community in West Springs. Plaza consists of two nine-storey buildings each with a two-storey commercial podium and seven storeys of residential development above. The two buildings are connected by a bridge at the second storey level with a plaza underneath that is centre ice for West District’s main street aka Broadcast Avenue. It is already home to several popular Calgary merchants - Bianco Cantina, UNA Pizza + Wine, F45 Training, and Deville Coffee.  When asked “What does this award mean to Truman?” Oliver Trutina, Vice President at Truman replied, “It is always great to be recognized by our peers.  Mixed use developments are difficult, so it was critical we get Plaza right as it is the cornerstone for West District's main street and a flagship multi-family residential building for what we hope will be a benchmark walkable community in the suburbs."

 Peaks + Plains by RNDSQR

“Peak + Plains” by developer RNDSQR and designed by Vera Architecture and BBLOC Interior Design won the “Housing Innovation” award. It is a great example of “missing middle” (i.e., small residential developments larger than duplex but smaller than four-storey condo buildings. Located along 16th Street SW in Altadore, the 20 new town homes, create a buffer between the commercial shopping centre on one side and the single-family homes on the other side.  The unique architecture, with sloped roofs on the front side and flat roofs along the back lane necessitated by stacking living space over the garage, created mountain / plains roof-top silhouette.   RNDSQR is known for its unique contemporary designs and “Peak + Plains” certainly enhances their reputation as one of Canada’s leading inner-city infill developers.

Alkarim Devani, Co-founder of RNDSQR said his team was honoured to be recognized by his peers for Peaks + Plains adding “this award is truly special as this project like many in the established neighbourhoods questioned whether or not missing middle belongs near single family homes and obviously were worried about the impact. Today, I believe many of those residents no longer have those perspectives or concerns. Our projects have always been about people and finding ways in a respectful manner to the existing context of how bringing housing choice and access to these amazing neighbourhoods.”

Honourable Mentions Residential Development

Honourable mentions for the “Housing Innovation” award were GGA Architecture for “Neoma” developed by Homespace and “Varsity Fire Hall” designed by Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative.

“Neoma” originally known as the Sierra Building is a 10-storey office building that has been converted to homes for 200 Calgarians in need - 82 affordable rental homes (37% below market rents), 10 units of shelter spaces and transitional housing with a commercial space on the main floor.  It will also be home to Inn From the Cold’s operations and other programming for Calgarians in need. Architecturally the building’s façade has been transformed into a clean bright uplifting beacon on downtown’s 7th Avenue Transit Corridor. It includes a huge 15,000-square foot mural in the alley and artwork from 65 Calgary artists adorn the interior spaces. 

For Bernadette Majdell, CEO HomeSpace “it only made sense to get families in need of affordable housing into some of downtown’s empty office spaces. Having the amenities of downtown at your fingertips, and the C-train at your front door opens the city up to these families. Projects like this show good things can happen when the whole city comes together to back a great idea.”

The Varsity Fire Hall is innovative in that it also includes a 48 home Calgary Housing building with a commercial space ideally suited to become a childcare space. Imagine a childcare space next to a fire station – what a brilliant idea!  The kids will think they have died and gone to heaven.  And while not everyone wants to live next to a Fire / EMS station, this integrated mixed-use approach to providing affordable homes is also brilliant.

Some of the other award winners

Urban Architecture: The District at Beltline: Spear Street Capital, Kasian Architecture Interior Design & Planning Ltd.

A new food hall created in an orphaned space between to low-rise office buildings between 11th and 12th Avenues at 2nd St SW enhances the livability and walkability for 1,000s of new and existing nearby Beltline residents.

Civic Design Projects: Dale Hodges Park: The City of Calgary, O2 Planning & Design; Sans Facon; Source2Source; AECOM

The project was born of the need to restore the environmental health of a former quarry while addressing stormwater treatment opportunities for runoff from over 1,700 hectares of adjacent urban area. Located within an existing 164-hectare river valley park, the site adds 40 hectares of integrated park land, stormwater treatment facilities, and one of the largest public artworks in North America.

Urban Fragments: Flyover Park: Parks Foundation, Stantec Consulting Ltd.

An example of how neglected spaces can improve our city, creating park and play equity for traditionally underserved communities. Driven by community, citizens identified a neglected and perceived unsafe space, and inspired the design of a new inclusive community hub centered around play for all ages.

Community Initiatives: Beltline Neighbourhoods Association, Public City Architecture.

A new rooftop park and event space in Calgary’s Beltline, and an exciting destination for residents and visitors alike. The park originated as part of a community-led adaptive re-use project that has successfully converted the underutilized top floor of a multi-level parkade into one of Downtown Calgary’s most vibrant new public spaces and a highly valued community asset.

Confluence Award: Century Gardens Redevelopment: City of Calgary Parks, Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative; PFS Studio: CMAL

An enhanced gather place in on the west side of downtown for residents and workers.

For more information on these award winning projects  and the other award winners go to https://www.calgary.ca/awards/urban-design/winners-mentions.html