The OAA has launched its Landscape Design Competition to revitalize its Toronto headquarters with final submissions due Thursday, May 16. Interested participants must have registered by Friday, March 22, 2024 at 4 pm, with registration now closed. You are invited to view the Project Brief + Competition Guidelines and watch the March 20 information webinar (below) outlining details of the competition.
There is also a public exhibition of the anonymous submissions that will be happening as part of Doors Open Toronto at the OAA Headquarters on May 25 and 26. OAA members should also save the date for the evening of June 27 at the headquarters for a special event: more information will be shared soon!
Among the goals of the Landscape Design Competition is a furthering of the Association’s Renew + Refresh initiative, which made the building a model of net-zero design. The winning team for the anonymous, juried competition—overseen by Ontario architect Joe Lobko— will be awarded the contract to redesign the landscaping at the OAA property at 111 Moatfield Drive.
In addition to showcasing design excellence, competitors will be asked to create a welcoming arrival experience, enhance the building, incorporate public art, recognize the role of sustainability and water use in the health of the environment, and acknowledge the Don River ravine context. See the Project Brief for complete details.
A key objective for the competition is to promote how architecture and the allied arts and sciences are integral to the quality of life and well-being of our society. As such, project proposals will be shared anonymously as part of a public exhibition at the OAA Headquarters, debuting at Doors Open Toronto 2024 on May 25 and 26, and continuing to June 21. Guided tours of the building interior will be offered daily during the Doors Open event and Professional Advisor, Joe Lobko, will be onsite to answer questions about the competition. This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for visitors to see the grounds in-person and envision the many possible transformations imagined by competitors.
Eligibility and Team Registration
The Landscape Design Competition is open to teams led by a licensed member of the OAA or a Full Member of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) who is able to conduct the work through a Certificate of Practice or landscape architecture firm. All participating teams must include an OALA landscape architect and a civil engineer. Others may be part of the team as desired.
Registration was required by March 22, at 4 pm. Registered teams were given separate online access to a selection of documents and files (listed in the Appendices section) and access to the Submission Portal, where they must create an account no later than March 29, 2024. Further instructions will be provided directly to registrants via email. Registered teams will use the Submission Portal to upload the required digital components of their Design Package (outlined in the Project Brief).
An anonymous designation will be provided to each registered team for use in its submissions. Each component of the Design Package must be identified with the anonymous designation provided. To preserve anonymity, no identifying images, logos, or other features of the teams or any of their members will be accepted in any visual or written materials submitted as part of the design package. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from jury consideration.
All complete submissions will be featured anonymously in both in-person and online exhibitions of entries, using project titles and anonymous designations only. Please see the Project Brief + Competition Guidelines for complete details.
Technical Review Advisory team
The Landscape Design Competition is supported by a Technical Review Advisory team comprising:
• Sibylle von Knobloch, OALA, CSLA (senior landscape architect with O2 Planning + Design);
• Steve Hollingworth, P.Eng. (civil engineer and director of water resources with TYLin); and
• Tom Ingersoll (cost consultant with Ingersoll & Associates Inc.)
Jury
Anonymous submissions will be reviewed by a panel of esteemed jurors comprising:
• Chair Susan Speigel, BA, B.Arch., (EQ. M.Arch), OAA, FRAIC (architect with SSA Studio and OAA Vice President);
• Sheila Boudreau, OALA, APALA, CSLA, RPP/OPPI, MCIP (landscape architect with SpruceLab)
• Michelle Longlade (Lieutenant Governor-appointed member of the OAA’s governing Council);
• Marc Ryan, OALA (landscape architect with Public Work); and
• Liz Wreford, B.Env., MALA, OALA, SALA, AALA, CSLA (landscape architect with Public City).
Competition Prize
The winning design will be awarded a $20,000 prize and be selected to lead the landscape redesign project. Two honourable mentions will also be selected with an award of $5,000 each.
Budget
OAA Council has approved an overall budget of $2 million to complete the project, including both consultant and construction costs as well as contingencies. The consultant fee will represent 15% of construction value. Please see the Project Brief for complete details.
Goals
As the province’s regulator for the architecture profession, the OAA’s primary mandate is to serve and protect the public interest. Given the substantial societal impact of the construction and operation of the built environment, the Association seeks to take a leadership role in celebrating sensitive, responsible, and innovative design while emphasizing the essential role the architecture profession, and all design professionals, plays in building for resiliency and inclusivity.
“This competition is a natural extension and continuation of the ethos underpinning the Renew + Refresh project,” says Lara McKendrick, OAA Vice President and Chair of the Building Committee. “We see this competition as an opportunity to think about how we can take steps to heal our relationship with the land and its original caretakers.”
Please see the Project Brief + Competition Guidelines for complete details.