PHOTOS: The best new buildings, other structures have been chosen in Mississauga

A reimagined central library named after a Mississauga icon and a pedestrian bridge that lets people cross over a busy road in the city’s north end are among the big winners at the 2025 Mississauga Urban Design Awards.

The newly redesigned Hazel McCallion Central Library in Mississauga’s downtown core received the Award of Excellence as the 10 winners in the biennial competition were revealed this past Thursday night. The awards recognize the best in architecture and city design as chosen by a jury and, in one case, the people of Mississauga.

After some $49 million in major renovations, the central library fully reopened to the public in early 2024 with many additional amenities and an entirely new look. It had been closed for more than two years while the work was completed.

The Hazel McCallion Central Library, redesigned by RDH Architects Inc., competed in the Public Project category of the latest Urban Design Awards.

The Hazel McCallion Central Library, located in Mississauga’s downtown core.

Entered in the Urban Elements category, the Living Root Bridge for pedestrians earned the People’s Choice Award in the 2025 competition.

That award is presented to the project that receives the most public support through online voting. Voting for the People’s Choice Award closed on Aug. 31.

The Living Root Bridge crosses over Derry Road, east of Glen Erin Drive, in the Meadowvale area of Mississauga.

Toronto-based artists Andres Bautista and Novka Ćosović, founders of Bau & Cos Studio, brought the pedestrian walkway to life by adding a big touch of art — with plenty of local meaning.

The Living Root Bridge.

“We were inspired to create a living-root-bridge over the loud and busy Derry Road to promote the existence of Meadowvale’s wildlife and plant species,” the artists said in a joint statement about their work in a City of Mississauga online project description.

“From afar, the artwork looks as if the bridge is swallowed by roots, branches, wildflowers and vines. As you walk closer and examine the intricate details of the artwork, faces of animals start to unravel. Drawn by a need to bring nature back to the city, the artwork beautifies the bridge and the surrounding environment with an immersive interplay of light and shadow and the language of camouflage.”

Opened in 2021, Saigon Park in Mississauga’s north end is dedicated to the local Vietnamese community.

The 2025 Mississauga Urban Design Awards paid tribute to the most innovative, interesting and inspiring projects to recently land within the city’s borders.

A jury comprised of members from the design community and Mississauga city council decided from among dozens of entries which would emerge the winners in various categories.

All nominations were received by April as program officials put the call out for “innovative and impactful urban design projects” to be considered for this year’s awards.

Awards of Merit, which recognize “excellence in one or more of the judging criteria,” awards organizers say, went to the following six projects:

• Applewood Towns
• Lakeview Village Discovery Centre — part of a huge new waterfront residential/business community
• M1 and M2
• Saigon Park — a sprawling city park dedicated to Mississauga’s Vietnamese community
• The Lake House
• Mattamy Homes Central Sales Centre

M1 and M2.

Healthy by Design Awards, presented to projects “that exemplify the six Healthy Community Design elements,” went to:

• Brightwater I
• Cornerstone Suites

Awards were presented in three categories:

• Urban Elements: a standalone object that contributes to the quality of the public realm.
• Private Project: a building or group of buildings that achieve urban design excellence.
• Public Project: a building or group of buildings that are accessible and serve the public.

With the theme “Reflections and Visions” in mind, City of Mississauga officials behind the awards earlier described the latest program as one that “celebrates the accomplishments of the city’s past, while also looking ahead to the exciting opportunities for growth and transformation that will shape the future.”

In an earlier news release, Mississauga officials said “urban design has the power to enhance communities, creating spaces that are not only functional but also innovative, sustainable and inclusive.”

Applewood Towns.

The Mississauga Urban Design Awards competition began in 1981 and is the longest-running awards program of its kind in Ontario. 

Held every other year, 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, city officials say. 

In selecting winners in various categories, the jury evaluates entries on a citywide and community significance scale, taking into account living green, innovation, context, execution and healthy development elements.

All entries must be located within Mississauga and have been completed when the submission is received by the city.

Nominated projects are eligible for the following awards:

• Award of Excellence: given to projects that demonstrate excellence across all judging criteria
• Award of Merit: given to projects that demonstrate excellence in one or more of the judging criteria
• Healthy by Design: given to projects that exemplify the six Healthy Community Design elements of density, service proximity, land use mix, street connectivity, streetscape characteristics and parking

For more information and to check out this year’s winners and other entries, visit the Urban Design Awards site.

Also, take a peek at previous Urban Design Awards winners that helped shape Mississauga’s lakeshore communities.

Following are other award winners from 2025:

Lakeview Village Discovery Centre — part of a huge new waterfront residential/business community.

The Lake House.

Mattamy Homes Central Sales Centre.

Brightwater I.

Cornerstone Suites.

(All images: City of Mississauga)

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