December 10, 1999
To: Policy and Finance Committee
From: City Clerk
Subject: A Unified Architecture and Urban Design
Awards Program for Toronto 2000
Recommendation:
The Budget Advisory Committee on December 9, 1999, recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and
Council, that, due to lack of funding, the Architecture and Urban Design Awards program should not be approved.
Background:
The Budget Advisory Committee had before it a report (December 7, 1999) from the City Clerk, advising that the Policy
and Finance Committee on December 7, 1999, referred a report (November 15, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of
Urban Planning and Development Services to the Budget Advisory Committee for consideration.
for City Clerk
B. Henderson/ms
C:\in\it006
c. Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
(Report dated December 7, 1999, addressed to the
Budget Advisory Committee from the City Clerk)
The Policy and Finance Committee reports having referred the following report to the Budget Advisory Committee for
consideration:
Background:
The Policy and Finance Committee at its meeting held on December 7, 1999, had before it a communication (December 2,
1999) from the City Clerk, advising that the Planning and Transportation Committee on November 29, 1999,
recommended the adoption of the report (November 15, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and
Development Services, recommending that:
(1) a unified Architecture and Urban Design Awards program be established for the City of Toronto;
(2) Urban Planning and Development Services staff be requested to develop in detail a program for the 2000 Architecture
and Urban Design Awards;
(3) funds in the amount of $65,000.00 be prior authorized for scheduling purposes and be added to the Urban Planning and
Development Services 2000 Operating Budget; and
(4) this report be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration.
(Report dated December 2, 1999, addressed
to the Policy and Finance Committee from the City Clerk)
Recommendations:
The Planning and Transportation Committee at its meeting on November 29, 1999, recommended the adoption of the
report (November 15, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services and in
accordance with Recommendation No. (4) therein, forwards this report, and the Committee's recommendation in this
regard, to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration.
Background:
At its meeting on November 29, 1999, the Planning and Transportation Committee gave consideration to the report
(November 15, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, reporting on
developing, for 2000, a unified Architecture and Urban Design Awards program for the City of Toronto to replace those
that have existed in the former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and Toronto. The new combined
competition will capture all the best elements of previous programs. Its objective is to promote the excellence in
architecture and urban design and create a beautiful city, and recommending that:
(1) a unified Architecture and Urban Design Awards program be established for the City of Toronto;
(2) Urban Planning and Development Services staff be requested to develop in detail a program for the 2000 Architecture
and Urban Design Awards;
(3) funds in the amount of $65,000.00 be prior authorized for scheduling purposes and be added to the Urban Planning and
Development Services 2000 Operating Budget; and
(4) this report be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration.
The Committee's action is as noted.
(Report dated November 15, 1999, addressed
to the Planning and Transportation Committee from the
Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning
and Development Services)
Purpose:
To develop, for 2000, a unified Architecture and Urban Design Awards program for the City of Toronto to replace those
that have existed in the former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and Toronto. The new combined
competition will capture all the best elements of previous programs. Its objective is to promote the excellence in
architecture and urban design and create a beautiful City.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The Inaugural Architecture and Urban Design Awards competition to be organized in the year 2000 will require funding of
$65,000.00 in the Departmental Operating Budget. In the following years, $45,000.00 will be required to continue this
program.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) a unified Architecture and Urban Design Awards program be established for the City of Toronto;
(2) Urban Planning and Development Services staff be requested to develop in detail a program for the 2000 Architecture
and Urban Design Awards;
(3) funds in the amount of $65,000.00 be prior authorized for scheduling purposes and be added to the Urban Planning and
Development Services 2000 Operating Budget; and
(4) this report be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration.
Background:
For the last several years the former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and Toronto have undertaken
Architecture and Urban Design Awards programs. With amalgamation, the opportunity exists to combine these into a
unified program that will encompass and showcase the whole City. The significance of initiating the first unified awards
program in the Year 2000 is that it provides an opportunity for the new City to emphasize the importance of design
excellence in its built environment for the next millenium and encourage building of the beautiful City.
These awards programs have successfully motivated and rewarded excellence in architectural and urban design projects
undertaken in the City. They have also increased the public and private recognition of the positive role good urban design
and architectural excellence have to play in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in Toronto and its contribution to
economic development.
Comments:
The purpose of an Architecture and Urban Design Awards program for the City of Toronto is to encourage and recognize
good architecture and urban design throughout the new City. This program will identify projects which are outstanding
examples of city-building, acknowledge the foresight of the development industry or public institutions, and recognize the
skills of its architects, landscape architects, engineers, artists and designers.
It is recommended that the program occur as an annual event. Considering the potential increase in the number of entries
due to the size of the amalgamated City, the program would be easier to administer as a yearly event and the momentum
gathered could be maintained. It is important to note however, that this event will evolve over time as a better
understanding of the specific demands and needs for the unified program become apparent.
Because Toronto looks its best from late May to October, the judging for the awards should take place in June 2000, the
jury report and exhibition would be prepared over the summer, and the exhibition and ceremony would take place in
September.
The purpose of the Architecture and Urban Design program is to recognize projects which demonstrably enhance the
public domain. The emphasis is on the integration of art, architectural, landscape and/or heritage elements which make a
positive contribution to the public realm.
It is recommended that the following four categories be used in awarding outstanding architectural and urban design
projects.
(1) Element:
A single piece of architecture contributing significantly to the City of Toronto, such as a bridge, doorway, facade, gate,
fountain, lighting fixture, monument, sign, tower, or work of art.
(2) Small Place or Project:
A single space or park, square, plaza, lane, gas station, courtyard, garden, etc., or an arrangement of buildings providing
public access and amenity.
(3) Large Place or Project/Streets:
A large space (park, square, plaza, ravine etc.) complex or system providing public access and amenity; the related public
space of a street or a set of streets and the accompanying elements defining the street(s).
(4) Theoretical/Demolished Project:
A design proposal, visionary project, public art project or thesis (as a temporary installation or unexecuted "work on
paper"); a significant element, a place no longer existing; a temporary event.
These categories have the potential to recognize projects that differ in scale and budget. The jury will be awarding projects
in the four categories for both a suburban and an urban context. Criteria will be established which deal with the project's fit
into the urban and natural context and its contribution to design innovation, quality, functionality and cultural qualities of
developments.
Two levels of awards are recommended: Award(s) of Excellence and Honourable Mention(s).
An approximate budget of $65,000.00 has been developed which includes the costs for pamphlet/entry form and brochure
designs, printing, mailing, jury expenses, photography, exhibition, awards and reception. The budget is broken down into
start up costs (logo design, etc.) of $20,000.00 and ongoing yearly costs (jury, reception, exhibit, brochure, etc.) of
$45,000.00.
In past years, the various Architecture and Urban Design Awards programs were funded primarily through municipal
capital budgets, and in some instances additional funds were raised by corporate sponsorships.
Conclusions:
The Architecture and Urban Design Awards programs undertaken in the former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York,
Scarborough and Toronto have encouraged excellence and recognition of good urban design and outstanding architectural
achievements. By initiating the first unified awards program in the Year 2000, the new City of Toronto emphasizes its
commitment to building a beautiful City through design excellence in the new millenium. This report requests authority to
establish a unified Architecture and Urban Design Awards program for Toronto and that funds in the amount of $65,000.00
be added to the Urban Planning and Development Services 2000 Operating Budget to implement the program. It is
necessary to secure prior authorization for these funds in order to meet the proposed project schedule.
Contact:
Ms. Alka Lukatela, Program Coordinator,
Civic Improvement,
Tel: 392-1131, Fax: 392-1744
Email: alukatel@toronto.ca
Mr. Robert Glover, Director, Urban Design
Tel: 392-1126, Fax: 392-1744
Email: rglover@toronto.ca