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SAKTO WINS SPECIAL JURY AWARD AT OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN AWARDS
Ottawa honoured some of its finest urban designers at last evening’s Ottawa Urban Design Awards Ceremony, held at the Karsh-Masson Gallery in the ByWard Market.
"Our urban landscape is our most immediate environment," said Councillor Peter Hume, Chair of the Planning and Environment Committee. "Urbanization works well when function and design integrate to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, as demonstrated by tonight’s winners. This year’s awards also give us a glimpse of the future wealth of innovative talent in the student projects that are being honoured."
"This second Ottawa Urban Design Awards ceremony demonstrates once again the beauty and creativity that surrounds us every day, thanks to our talented architects, engineers and designers," said Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Planning, Transit and the Environment Department. "It is important to draw attention to the excellent examples of good urban design in our community, and to share this with the public through this prestigious award ceremony."
The 25 entries submitted for the four categories of Urban Infill, Public Places and Civic Spaces, Urban Elements and, for the first time, Student Projects, presented an exciting challenge to the four independent jurors from Montreal, Winnipeg, Markham and Toronto. Eleven projects were recognized for an Award of Excellence, an Award of Merit, and a Special Jury Award.
The recent phase of this mixed-use commercial project – in the heart of "Little Italy" – is the recipient of a "special jury award", a new category created this year by the jury to recognize the uniqueness of certain projects and contexts. Wide sunny sidewalks with room for outdoor cafés are lined with small retail and restaurant spaces. Interior entry spaces and outdoor landscaped courtyards are used to unite diverse development built over several phases.
Some of the jury comments:
"What a delightful surprise on Preston Street . The jury separated this entry for recognition because it crosses so many categories and demonstrated a remarkable transformation of a parcel from a suburban office park form into a remarkable mixed-use neighbourhood centre. Employment, housing and retail have been masterfully combined in a very complicated urban design that for users is very simple and legible. The Preston Street frontage is a model for west facing re-urbanization throughout the city. Watch this spot evolve and amplify the life of Preston Street ."
"This project distinguishes itself by being able to successfully urbanise an impossible site."
"This project provides an excellent example of how to integrate mixed-use with a strong pedestrian environment."
Project:
Preston Square Development
Owner: Sakto Corporation
Project Team: Aberdeen Project Facilitators, IBI Group Architects, Bregman and Hamann Architects, Adjeleian Allen Rubeli, McKee Engineering, Douglas Associates, Quinn Design Associates, Novatech Engineering
For more information on Sakto or this Press Coverage, please email info@sakto.com.
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