1.5 ConEd Learning Hours

10:30 a.m.‐12:00 p.m
 

A case study of the Gibbard District Revitalization Project in downtown Napanee, Ontario, this session will explore how architects can take a project’s development pro forma from red to black while expanding the ways in which they add tangible value to cities and towns, residents, and developers alike. Begun in 2017, the Gibbard District is a large, mixed‐use, adaptive reuse development centred around a central piazza on the banks of the Napanee River. The pandemic forced construction to halt in 2022 as supply chains were disrupted and construction costs escalated. This session will discuss how this project was financially resurrected by understanding the client’s unique challenges, increasing net sellable area by 30%, and adding over 180 residential units, re‐examining unit types and sizes in a changing housing landscape—all while working within a city‐planning‐accepted built‐form and design. The Gibbard District, situated amongst the historic foundations and chimney stack of the old Gibbard furniture factory, is geothermally‐ conditioned, will be hydro‐electrically powdered by the nearby river, and will reclaim the riverfront as a destination of people within and outside the community.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand what makes a project financially feasible and other challenges developers face.

2. Learn how Studio JCI resurrected a project financially.

3. Learn how to impact the planning process through design and creativity.

4. Explore placemaking and sustainable revitalization in Downtown Napanee.

Sudipto Sengupta, Hon.B.A.S, M.Arch, OAA Principal

Studio JCI

With more than 15 years of experience in design and project management, Sudipto Sengupta plays a pivotal leadership role in establishing Studio JCI’s project delivery standards, core values, and culture. Sudipto has overseen numerous landmark projects at the firm that encompass commercial interiors, custom homes, mid‐ rise designs, a 45‐storey residential tower in Toronto’s Weston Village, and a master‐planned community in Napanee. Sudipto’s commitment to design excellence is complemented by his comprehensive knowledge and experience, spanning feasibility studies, design development, project phasing, construction, and site contract administration. In his role as principal, Sudipto leads by example, guiding colleagues to comprehend the broader picture of development and how architects’ creativity can enhance processes, engage stakeholders, and contribute to the community. Sudipto serves as a mentor who champions an inclusive and respectful work environment, promotes collaboration by leveraging individual strengths, and fosters professional development at every career stage. A recipient of the E. Lewis Dales Travelling Fellowship, Sudipto earned a master’s degree of architecture and a certificate in urban design from the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, furthering his education at the Architectural Association in London.

Jaegap Chung, B.Arch, OAA, MRAIC Principal

Studio JCI

Jaegap Chung graduated with a bachelor of architecture from the University of Toronto. He has extensive experience in a wide range of project types and sizes with a specialization in high‐end residential design. Jaegap is a founding principal of Studio JCI, a Toronto‐based architecture firm designing and building over eight million square feet of residential projects annually. Recognized for his leadership as an architect, Jaegap is committed to bolstering timeless projects that contribute to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the built environment. With over 25 years of extensive experience in high‐end residential design, Jaegap’s innovation and project leadership spans varying scales, neighbourhoods, and municipalities. He is an advocate for the critical role that designers play in shaping the city and expanding ways in which architects add value. While Jaegap has gained much recognition for his exclusive designs, his true passion is society‐ shaping, residential innovation that prioritizes community‐building and future‐proofed sustainability. Jaegap’s work has been influential in shaping several City of Toronto municipal planning policy initiatives in support of encouraging the design and construction of multiplexes and mid‐rises, all in favour of restoring the city’s missing middle.