Niagara Community Design Awards
The Niagara Community Design Awards celebrates the excellence in community design in the Niagara Region.
Submission Process
Download the 2009 Submission Form and submit by 2 p.m. on December 8, 2009.
You can drop-off your form and panel to:
- Niagara Region Integrated Community Planning Department
2201 St. David's Rd.
Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 [View Map]
Submissions may be submitted in one category only.
Eligibility and Requirements
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All projects must be substantially completed. For a project this means ready for occupancy and/or use. For a policy or plan this means approved or adopted by Council.
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Projects that were completed after 1999 will be considered for all awards categories with the exception of the Leadership and Legacy award. Projects completed up to twenty-five years ago may be considered for the Leadership and Legacy award category.
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Projects/person or groups must be in or have significantly contributed to community design in Niagara, Ontario.
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Former award winning or honouree projects may not be resubmitted for the same category.
Award Categories
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Small Scale Project
An infill or redvelopment project that is small in scale or nature that demonstrates excellence in design. The project must be under 600m² (6458 ft²) and/or a maximum of three storeys high. -
Larger Scale Project
An infill or redevelopment project that is larger in scale or nature that demonstrates excellence in design. The project must be over 600m² (6458 ft²) and/or a greater in height than three storeys. -
Public Realm Improvement
This award recognizes excellence in design of the spaces between the places, and presents a significant improvement to the public realm. This category may include public art, parking lots, parks, or road realignment that effectively integrates with the surrounding buildings, is accessible, and contributes to the beautification and use of the site. -
Architecture
This award recognizes architectural excellence by a Niagara architect, and may be a new building, or addition to an existing. Architectural excellence may include use of new technologies, design, building layout, or integration of styles. -
Sustainability
This award recognizes projects that meet a higher standard of environmental efficiency. The award could be for residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings; may be public or private; and could be within urban or rural / agricultural areas. Included in consideration of this award is site design, building materials, and / or environmental efficiency. -
Façade Improvement
This award recognizes an improvement to the façade of a building that may or may not have internal improvements. The primary feature of this award is the revitalization of the street face of the building that demonstrates creativity. This award may recognize heritage restoration or a more modern approach. -
Adaptive Re-use
This award recognizes the re-use of an existing building or buildings in a manner that demonstrates creativity, reintegrates the site into the community, and provides a mix of uses and choice into the surrounding neighbourhood. -
Brownfield
Revitalization of a former brownfield site into one that once again integrates with the fabric of the community demonstrating the smart growth principles through creativity, utilization of existing servicing, creation of a mix and/or intensification of uses, and integration with the surroundings. -
Policy and Plans
An approved Official Plan, Neighbourhood/Secondary Plan, Design Guideline, Community Improvement Plan, or development plan that focuses on the smart growth principles such as a mix of uses, walkability, and compact development. -
Leadership and Legacy
These awards recognize projects completed within the last twenty-five years that provide a lasting example of good community design.-
Builder/Developer
This award recognizes an individual or group that has acted as a pioneer in the Niagara community in achieving good community design and the smart growth principles. -
Niagara Architect
This award recognizes an architect or firm that has acted as a pioneer in the Niagara community in achieving good community design and the smart growth principles.
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Overall Excellence Award
May be presented to a project that demonstrates an extraordinary level of ingenuity and creativity; includes a mix and/or intensification of uses; considers pedestrians; integrates and compliments the community; and features compact development. No nominations will be accepted for this award.
Full award descriptions/criteria are available in the 2009 Submission Form.
Evaluation Criteria
Project submissions will be judged on the basis of how well the project achieves the intention of the category, demonstrates Niagara's Smart Growth principles and how it considers issues such as the following:
- Compatibility, fit or enhancement of the existing urban / natural context,
- Design (such as architectural or landscape) innovation and quality in Niagara, and
- Appropriate technical and functional requirements (e.g. pedestrian and vehicular circulation, site utilization, servicing).
Notification of Winners
Winners of the awards will be notified in December. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in January.
Questions
Questions and comments may be directed to:
Terri Donia, Awards Coordinator
Tel: 905-685-4225 ext. 3374
Fax: 905-641-5208
Email
