The 2023 Toronto Urban Design Awards program acknowledge and celebrates those who are helping to improve communities by shaping the physical environment and recognizes the significant contribution that architects, landscape architects, urban designers, artists, design students and city builders make to the look and livability of our city.
The awards provide a snapshot of what has been accomplished and enables us to reflect on how we can best contribute to the process of city-building and inspires us to keep raising the bar.
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| March 13, 2023 | Call for Entries |
| April 24, 2023 12 p.m. (noon) | Project Entry Deadline |
| June 1, 2023 | Sponsorship Deadline |
| September 13, 2023 | Awards Ceremony |
| October 30 to November 4, 2023 | Exhibit of Winners (Etobicoke Civic Centre) |
| November 6 to 10, 2023 | Exhibit of Winners (Metro Hall) |
| November 13 to 17, 2023 | Exhibit of Winners (City Hall) |
| November 20 to 24, 2023 | Exhibit of Winners (Scarborough Civic Centre) |
| January 8-12, 2024 | Exhibit of Winners (North York Civic Centre) |
Matthew Hickey, OAA, MRAIC, B.Des., B. Ed., M.Arch., LEED A.P.
Partner, Two Row Architects
Matthew is Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve, receiving his Masters of Architecture from the University of Calgary and his Bachelor of Design from the Ontario College of Art and Design. His Mohawk background continues to have a significant impact on his work. Practicing architecture at Two Row Architect for 16 years, he currently oversees design and development for the firm. Their core focus is on Indigenous design and architecture, designing buildings, landscapes, and installations, on and off-reserve in locations all over Turtle Island.
Matthew’s focus for sustainability is on regenerative and restorative design – encompassing ecological, cultural, and economic principles. His work pushes the concepts of Universal Inclusivity through integrated landscapes, food equity, the importance of water, and place-keeping for all species, including humans. His research includes Indigenous history in architecture of Northern & Middle America and the realignment of western ideology towards historic sustainable technologies for the contemporary North American climate.
He believes that giving back and encouraging younger generations is the key to moving our way of thinking about design and architecture forward. Further, he has lectured across Canada, including most recently at the Architecture Now Series at the University of Lethbridge. Art being in his blood, he is proud to be a Director on the Board of Toronto Artscape Inc. and a member of the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel.
Juhee Oh, M.Arch, EcoDistricts AP, Envision SP
Director, Climate Strategy, Choice Properties
Juhee joined the Sustainability and Placemaking team at Choice Properties in July 2023, as the Director of Climate Strategy. In this role, Juhee is overseeing the development and the rollout of climate-related activities as Choice Properties pursue their commitment of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She is advancing climate-related design on both the development pipeline and the existing portfolio of over 700 properties. Juhee is also currently serving as the Sustainability Specialist for the City of Toronto Design Review Panel.
Juhee has extensive knowledge in sustainability advisory, reporting, and standards across a broad range of sectors, including buildings, transportation, energy, and land-use planning. Previously at WSP, she managed and led a team that specializes in facilitating sustainability-informed decision-making at the strategic level. Juhee has led a multitude of multi-disciplinary teams in developing and delivering complex sustainability plans, policies, programs and frameworks for cities and the private sector. With a background in architecture and urban planning, Juhee Oh has worked on Sustainability and Energy projects with various design teams and municipalities for the past 15 years. Juhee has been involved with sustainability projects across the full building and infrastructure life cycle spectrum – from urban planning to design and operation.
Michael Ormston-Holloway, BSc, MScP, GDHort, ISA, MLA, ASLA, OALA, CSLA Landscape Architect, Certified Arborist, Urban Ecologist
Partner, The Planning Partnership
Adjunct Faculty, University of Toronto
Michael is a Partner with The Planning Partnership, and Adjunct Faculty at University of Toronto, working as a landscape architect, certified arborist, and urban ecologist, with over 20-years experience working in the related fields. Michael specializes in the urban environment, integrating the experience of thoughtful landscape design with the importance of functional ecological systems; working toward better connections with people and their natural environment.
With insight as a designer, arborist, horticulturist, and soil scientist, Michael has successfully integrated the skillsets of design and ecology; working to enrich the built environment with tangible examples of ecological principles and healthier landscapes. Together this has provided him with a strong scientific knowledge set that we apply to our projects to inform our designs with increased attention to the natural environment. Michael believes that a detailed understanding of the biotic realm of landscape architecture, and a strong understanding of performance-driven living systems, ensures a more valuable landscape experience.
Patrick Saavedra, B.Arch. Sc, M.Arch, MUP, OAA, FRAIC, AIA, NCARB
Assistant Vice President, Planning & Capital Project Management,
Columbia University, New York, NY
Patrick Saavedra is the Vice President, Planning & Capital Project Management, at Columbia University. A licensed Architect, Urban Planner and Educator with 30 plus years professional experience, previously the University Architect at York University where he oversaw Planning and Design. Leading over $1 billion in new capital projects and major renewal projects for over 14 years. He holds multiple degrees, a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson University, a Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan, and has completed Design Studies at University of Copenhagen.
Patrick has been a guest critic at several architectural schools, a keynote speaker at numerous events, and member of several advisory roles for the City of Toronto’s Public Art Commission, the City of Mississauga’s Urban Design Review Panel, and has advised City Councilors on community related redevelopment projects. Patrick has been a Jury Member and Chair of several awards programs and a key member of professional committees including the OAA and the RAIC.
With over 15 years teaching experience Patrick currently teaches in a post-professional program at Toronto Metropolitan University. As adjunct professor he taught at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC in the graduate program at the School of Architecture.
In 2019 Patrick became a Fellow of the RAIC, and is member of the Ontario Association of Architects, Toronto Society of Architects, American Institute of Architects, National Certification Architects Record Board, and Society for College and University Planning. In 2019 the Building Transformations (CanBIM Council) recognized Patrick with a national Professional Achievement Award for his significant contribution to the advancement of digital innovation in the Canadian AEC industry.
Gail Shillingford, B.L.A, Urban and Landscape Design
Principal, B+H
Gail has a strong background in urban design and landscape architecture, a combination that has allowed her to create successfully integrated and balanced built form and open space environments. Her focus on all projects is entrenched in building community and creating attractive high-quality public realm spaces that foster socialization, inclusivity, cultural diversity, and healthy living. In each of her designs, the role of the public realm is heightened beyond creating notable destinations, to also revitalizing communities, incorporating sustainability and resiliency, and positioning open spaces as catalysts for social and economic vitality and viability.
With more than 25 years of experience, Gail has led the urban design, master planning, and detailed design of diverse projects at a variety of scales, ranging from city planning to detailed streetscape design. Her projects include community and campus master plans, heritage conservation district plans, downtown plans, waterfront master plans, community improvements plans, secondary plans, open space master plans, detailed streetscape design, and landscape design. She has played a significant role as project manager and senior urban designer on several award-winning projects.
In addition to her experience, Gail leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conversations and creates opportunities for safe forums for discussion. She pursues Indigenous education and knowledge building to respond to and enable Truth and Reconciliation. She leads the pursuit of innovative and challenging transdisciplinary projects, builds client and business relations, manages, trains and mentors teams, and leads multiple initiatives to build and foster firm-wide collaboration and design excellence.