Eight projects celebrated as Ottawa’s finest in urban design

OTTAWA – Eight exceptional projects completed between 2023 and 2025 were recently honoured as Ottawa’s best in urban design.

The biennial awards are presented in five categories:

• Urban Infill, (low-rise and mid to highrise), for a building or group of buildings that enhances the urban fabric of the neighbourhood.
• Public Places and Civic Spaces, for spaces that feature sustainability while enhancing the accessible public realm.
• Urban Elements, for design elements that contribute to the unique character of the neighbourhood.
• Visions and Master Plans, a forward-looking category for inspiring ideas.
• Student Projects, for theoretical or studio projects submitted by university students.

Here are the winners:

Urban infill

Forest Explorers Learning Centre: Award of Excellence

Located within Ottawa’s Greenbelt, the Forest Explorers Child Care Centre is designed to accommodate 73 children, including 10 infants, 15 toddlers and 48 preschoolers. It features an outdoor-focused approach to early childhood education.

Project team

Andrew Fleck Children’s Services
CSV Architects
Lashley + Associates
WSP
Goodkey
Weedmark & Associates
Novatech
Gemtec
Thomas Fuller Construction Co.

Zibi Block 207: Award of Merit

Block 207 reuses and reinterprets the post-industrial structure of the E.B. Eddy Mill. The project retains and integrates heritage components including the original unreinforced concrete structure while repurposing salvaged elements to tell the story of the site’s industrial and Indigenous significance, a release reads. Former pulpers are transformed into sculptural and planting elements and there are also interpretive panels featuring imagery and trilingual text in Algonquin, English and French.

Project team

Kohn Partnership Architects Inc. 
Teeple Architects

Public places and civic spaces

Kìwekì Point: Award of Excellence

Kìwekì Point reimagines a once-overlooked promontory in Canada’s capital as a public space that “renews vital relationships between people, place and the Kichi Zibi (Ottawa River),” the city notes. “Designed for all seasons, the park enhances biodiversity, improves stormwater management and reduces operational carbon through low-maintenance, drought-tolerant planting. A new pedestrian bridge connects the site to the region’s broader open space network, while a new pavilion anchors the point, offering space for gathering, storytelling and cultural exchange.”

Project team

National Capital Commission
Janet Rosenberg & Studio
Patkau Architects
Blackwell Engineers
ERA Architects
MCLD
EXP
CIMA

Westboro Beach: Award of Merit

Situated along the Ottawa River, six kilometres west of Parliament Hill, Westboro Beach has served as a destination for swimming and relaxation for over a century. Although the original 1967 pavilion designed by architect James Strutt featured sculptural towers, decades of deterioration led to a perception of the structure as “bunker-like and uninviting.” In addition, much of the northern portion of the three-hectare site had been overtaken by a 65-car parking lot, a long driveway and overgrown shoreline.
As part of the broader renewal of the nine kilometre Ottawa River South Shore Riverfront Park, the site’s owner undertook the rehabilitation of both the pavilion and park, introducing new public amenities to transform the area into a major waterfront destination. The completed project opened in spring 2025.

National Capital Commission
Arcadis
Pomerleau
D&G Landscaping

Cathedral Hill Retirement Residence: Award of Merit

A new pedestrian link, Philosopher’s Walk, creates an accessible mid-block connection between Sparks and Queen Streets, framed by high-quality paving, landscaping and seating that support movement and gathering. Along Sparks Street, the building engages the public realm with active frontage comprised of a lobby, lounge and café that open onto a linear patio and plaza, the project description reads. At the northwest corner, a recessed patio and curved hardscape treatment establish a welcoming entrance.

Project team
CSW Landscape Architects Limited
Hobin Architecture
Fotenn
Smith + Andersen
Reichmann Seniors Housing

Urban Elements

StacktX: Award of Excellence

This project revitalized public space by combining architecture, social impact and local economic development. Composed of two shipping containers, one at-grade and one elevated, the 160-square-foot structure frames a flexible retail unit and programmable deck. Despite its compact footprint, the design makes a powerful visual and cultural impact, the release explains.

Project team

DS Studio Inc.
Stackt Market
Balance Containers.

Still in Motion: Award of Merit

Rideau Street, Ottawa’s original downtown and historic commercial corridor stands as a vibrant destination and hub of over 600 businesses. But despite its cultural vitality, the area has lacked a strong presence of public art. To address this gap, proposals were sought for a new mural within Waller Mall. The resulting project aims to enliven this central corridor and reduce future graffiti tagging.

Project team

Drift Mural
Downtown Rideau BIA
AC Marriott Ottawa Downtown
Ottawa Art Gallery

Student Award

La Clairière: Award of Merit

Located at 1205 and 1225 Wellington St. W. in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood, La Clairière introduces a new urban model for aging-in-place by transforming former parking lots into a salutogenic senior care facility and complementary stormwater-focused urban parkette. At 1205 Wellington, the six-storey mixed-use care facility integrates senior housing with active ground-floor programs, including a resident-operated bakery, child care centre and grounding garden.

At 1225 Wellington, La Cour converts the adjacent surface lot into a decentralized stormwater landscape and year-round community parkette. The overall development strengthens Wellington Street’s active streetscape while supporting autonomy, wellness and meaningful interaction between residents and the broader community, the release adds.

Project team

Sarania Dabee