More than a dozen award winners showcase Mississauga’s urban beauty

A work of public art that helped 19 local artists during the pandemic and a unique waterfront office building that used to house a 1930s postal facility are the two big winners at this year’s Mississauga Urban Design Awards. 

The Lakeview Village Public Art Program (800 Hydro Rd.) and the Waterside Executive Centre (31 Lakeshore Rd.) earned Awards of Excellence at the annual event, which began in 1981 and is the longest-running awards program of its kind in Ontario. 

In total, 13 winners were unveiled. In addition to the Awards of Excellence, eight entries received Awards of Merit and three were honoured with People’s Choice Awards.  

Awards of Merit went to Oak Park House (99 Veronica Dr.), Pine Sanctuary (Riverwood Park Lane), The Spark (1352 Lakeshore Rd. E.), The Huron (2475 Hurontario St.), Chartwell Retirement Residences Headquarters (7070 Derrycrest Dr.), Blum Canada (6775 Maritz Dr.), Nine Creeks Trail P-534 (772 South Sheridan Way) and Maanjiwe nendamowinan (formerly the New North Building) at University of Toronto Mississauga (1535 Outer Circle). 

People’s Choice Awards went to The Spark, in the Urban Elements category, Chartwell Retirement Residences Headquarters, Private Projects category, and Cooksville GO Station and Parking Structure (3210 Hurontario St.), Public Projects category. 

City officials say the Lakeview Village Public Art Program aimed to create an innovative placemaking and public art experience to foster community pride, and establish a sense of place and belonging.  

It delivered more than $100,000 in paid work opportunities for 19 local artists during the pandemic. Each art piece represents the site’s history, Indigenous heritage and the project’s core values of connection to water, nature, community building and the arts.  

In recognizing the entry, the jury noted “this is a wonderful public art initiative. Located along a multi-use trail, (it is) intended to promote the future use of the site. Working with an Indigenous artist and other local artists makes the programming of this art installation unique.” 

Jurors added “…the integrated art installation contributes to the vibrancy of the public realm. The installation has provided colour and hope during the pandemic and turned into a major tourist attraction. This is an excellent example of how to animate construction hoarding on development projects throughout the rest of the city.” 

Project owner is Lakeview Community Partners Limited, the landscape architect is NAK Design Strategies and the relevant arts organization is Artscape. 

The other main winner, the Waterside Executive Centre, was a unique design undertaken by converting the 1931 Canada Post building into a new contemporary facility that includes two levels of underground parking and three levels of new offices, City officials note.  

The design combines elements of a heritage post office building with a new proposed all-glass office structure.  

In honouring the entry, the jury noted “this is an active centre with terraces on the other side that overlook the marina. The project takes advantage of all aspect in relationship to context. By keeping the old post office building for office use and combining a restaurant on the ground level adjacent to the marina, it makes an interesting community space that is well used. It also blends the private realm with public space in a creative, seamless way.” 

Centre City Capital Ltd. is the project owner, the architect is Adamson Associates Architects, and the landscape architect is Baker Turner Inc.

Meanwhile, a pair of other entries received two awards.  

The Spark Small Arms Inspection Building (1352 Lakeshore Rd. E.) received an Award of Merit and a People’s Choice nod in the Urban Elements category while Chartwell Retirement Residences Headquarters (7070 Derrycrest Dr.) took home an Award of Merit and a People’s Choice Award in the Private Projects category. 

Officials say The Spark was a temporary public art project, designed to reflect the historic nature of the Small Arms Inspection Building. It served as a reminder of the building’s explosive past as a munitions factory and firearms inspection facility through the Second World War, and as a symbol of the building’s new creative purpose as an arts centre.  

Project owners is the City of Mississauga and professional artist is Nathan Whitford/Urban Visuals. 

Chartwell Retirement Residences, officials note, sought to create a new head office that would inspire and engage their team within an environment that supports employee health and wellness. The site lies in context with low-rise buildings and backs in to Fletcher’s Creek and Derrydale Golf Course.  

Project Owner is Chartwell Master Care LP, architect is Sweeny&Co Architects Inc. and landscape architect is NAK Design Strategies. 

City officials say the Urban Design Awards aim to inspire and celebrate design leaders who help raise the quality of life for residents by shaping Mississauga’s diverse cityscape.  

“The awards are a great opportunity to recognize the designers, architects, developers and builders who have played a critical role in our efforts to build a world-class city. These private and public spaces beautify our city and provide much-needed greenspaces, public art and facilities for businesses and residents to enjoy,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. 

A jury of members from the design community and Ward 2 Councillor Karen Ras selected the winners. 

(Top photo in story shows the Waterside Executive Centre, one of two Awards of Excellence recipients. Other photos show The Spark Small Arms Inspection Building and Chartwell Retirement Residences Headquarters. Photos from City of Mississauga)