Toronto Urban Design Awards reflect BILD projects’ excellence
The homebuilding, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA is constantly striving for excellence. The many awards won by BILD members and their projects are proof that they succeed.
Many were honoured in this year’s Toronto Urban Design Awards and the Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s (OHBA) Awards of Distinction. Held every other year, the Toronto Urban Design Awards acknowledge the contribution of architects, city builders, landscape architects, urban designers, artists and design students to the look and livability of the city of Toronto. The annual OHBA awards program celebrates excellence in Ontario’s home building industry.
In the Toronto Urban Design Awards, the renovation of the Broadview Hotel by Streetcar Developments received an award of Excellence in the Private Buildings in Context, Mid-Rise Category. The project team that restored the 19thcentury Romanesque Revival building and integrated a three-storey addition included ERA Architects and the Design Agency, who are also members of BILD.
Urban Capital’s River City Phase Two, a condo and townhouse development, received an Award of Merit for Private Buildings in Context, Tall Category. The project team included our members the Planning Partnership and WSP/MMM Group. This is not the first time that the River City development in the West Don Lands has received accolades. It won design awards in the 2015 and 2010 BILD Awards.
Our members Hullmark Developments, Quadrangle Architects and ERA Architects were behind 619 Queen, an infill project that was given an Award of Merit in the Private Buildings in Context, Low Scale category. Meanwhile, the design for an innovative laneway in Regent Park, which is being developed by BILD member the Daniels Corporation in partnership with Toronto Community Housing Corporation, received an Award of Merit in the Visions and Master Plans category. BILD member BA Group was part of that winning project team, as well as other teams that won further awards.
There were also numerous other BILD members behind projects recognized with Toronto Urban Design Awards this year. They include Gillam Group, Ecovert, R.V. Anderson Associates, exp. Services Inc., Bousfields Inc., the Planning Partnership, Cole Engineering, SCS Consulting, Golder, Infrastructure Ontario, LEA Consulting, Stantec Architecture, Diamond Schmitt Architects, PCL Constructors Inc., and SvN.
I also want to congratulate all of the many members who were recently recognized with OHBA Awards. At last month’s awards, Tridel was named Ontario Home Builder of the Year for the second year in a row and the company also picked up several other awards. Eurodale Developments, another BILD member, received the award for Ontario Renovator of the Year.
Another highly recognized company was our member Losani Homes, which won OHBA awards for sales and design as well as the People’s Choice Award for its Central Park development in Hamilton.
Other BILD members recognized with OHBA Awards in design, renovation and marketing categories included Geranium, David Small Designs, Rosehaven Homes, Kylemore Communities, Great Gulf, Profile Custom Homes, North Drive Investments, Woodcliffe Landmark Properties, MOD Developments, Diamond Schmitt Architects, L.A. Inc., Empire Communities, Pureblink, Freed Developments, the Brand Factory, Builder Insight Group, RN Design, Engine Advertising, Figure3, McOuat Partnership, TCGpr and Men at Work Design Build. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. Find him at twitter.com/ bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.