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The Enbridge Centre came away from the biennial Urban Design Awards as one of the big winners, earning praise for its heritage component and public realm program. The DIALOG-designed office tower was among a host of victorious projects at the November 3rd celebration, which has been hosted by the City of Edmonton and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada since 2005.
Brought to life by Pangman Development Corporation and Kelley Ramsey GP Ltd., the 28-storey tower at 10175 101 Street NW incorporates the reproduced facades of the historic Kelly and Ramsey Buildings that had occupied the site. The four-storey podium was applauded for its pedestrian scale and authenticity, while the tower above, setback from the heritage component, adds a modern touch to the complex. The five-member jury of design professionals expressed their admiration for the project's incorporation of new and old building typologies, and concluded that the development served as a model for how to properly integrate heritage buildings. The building won the Award of Excellence in the Heritage Projects category.
The Enbridge Centre's surrounding public realm program was also lauded, with the jury citing it as a template for similar initiatives in the downtown core. Granite benches and large planters introduce greenery to the streetscape and provide tenants and the public with a permanent place of respite. The perennial nature of the space, able to be used throughout all seasons and times of day, was another contributing factor to giving the project the Award of Merit in the Civic Design category.
A number of other new urban design interventions were bestowed honours, including the Meadows Community Recreation Centre and Library by Group2 Architecture and Perkins + Will. The suburban facility at 2704 17 Street NW features a robust interior program with twin ice sheets, a fitness centre, a track, a gymnasium, an aquatic centre and several multipurpose rooms, while the exterior is defined by open spaces and undulating rooflines.
Also designed by Group2 Architecture, the Ritchie Market at 9570 76 Avenue NW was the subject of adulation for its reinvention of the conventional strip mall. A homage to the neighbourhood's industrial past, the community hub houses a craft brewery and restaurant, a coffee roaster and cafe, a butcher, and a bike shop under one roof. The businesses are blended together by an internal network of shared spaces. Weathering steel, board formed concrete, corrugated steel and brick and an exposed steel structure recall the area's humble roots. Both this project and the Meadows Community Centre came away with the Award of Excellence in Urban Architecture, while the GEC Architecture-designed Peter Lougheed Hall took home an Award of Merit. Ritchie Market was also the public's favourite pick, snagging the People's Choice Award.
A number of other smaller scale works of art received honours at the event. A full list of the winners are listed on the City of Edmonton website.
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