Competition for Landscape Architects: New Park at 229 Richmond Street West Toronto, Canada - deadline 2 March 2023
Parks, Forestry and Recreation at the City of Toronto is pleased to announce the launch of a design competition for a new park at 229 Richmond Street West in downtown Toronto.
The unencumbered, 2,600 square metre site will be the first major park in the King Spadina neighbourhood in more than 20 years. This project will create much needed parkland in the rapidly growing neighbourhood.
The two-stage design competition is open to design teams that can include international talent. However, each team must be led by a Landscape Architect registered with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects.
In this first stage of the competition, the City is seeking submissions from design teams who can demonstrate, through their qualifications, previous work and brief project understanding that they will excel at designing and overseeing construction of this important new park.
Following the review of the Stage One submissions, a short list of teams will be invited to participate in the Stage Two Request for Proposals, and will present conceptual designs to the public and to a Jury of landscape architects, design and art professionals. Shortlisted teams will receive an honorarium of $10,000 each.
Design goals for the new park include reflecting and celebrating the neighbourhood’s cultural scenes and unique history; achieving high standards for sustainability and climate resilience; integrating principles of Indigenous placekeeping, in line with the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan and providing a green oasis to the dense urban core. The park will include a public washroom.
Timeline
- Winter 2023: Design Competition Stage One (RFSQ)
- Spring 2023: Shortlisted design teams announced
- Spring 2023: Design Competition Stage Two opens (RFP)
- Summer 2023: Design Competition Stage Two closes (RFP) and public Open House for design submissions
- Fall 2023: Design team awarded project
Eligibility
The two-stage design competition is open to design teams, including international talent. Each team must be led by a Landscape Architect in good standing with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects. The teams must also include:
- An architect/architectural firm that is a full member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA). If the architect is registered in another jurisdiction and does not have OAA registration, a sub-consultant with this requirement must be on the team.
- A professional artist or artist team.
- An Indigenous design partner with experience or expertise in Indigenous placekeeping. This person can also fulfill other roles on the team, such as the artist, architect or landscape architect, but should have specific expertise in Indigenous placekeeping.
Stage One: Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ)
In this stage, the City is collecting applications from eligible design teams. The applicants will be evaluated based on their qualifications, work experience, and approach to the park site.
Stage One RFSQ submissions will be reviewed by an Evaluation Committee made up of City Staff and the Professional Advisor to the Design Competition. The five highest rated teams will be shortlisted and invited to participate in Stage Two. Each shortlisted team will receive an honorarium of $10,000.
In this stage, the shortlisted applicants will submit conceptual designs for the new park. The applicants will receive a competition brief in the form of a Request for Proposals (RFP) which will outline the submission requirements and provide additional material required to develop the designs. This stage will include an orientation session and site tour.
Stage Two: Request for Proposal (RFP)
The shortlisted applicants will present their design ideas in-person or virtually (to be determined) to the Design Jury and the community. The design ideas will also be shared on this page. A Professional Advisor will collect and summarize feedback on the design ideas from the Community Advisory Group, the Park Steering Committee, and the community. The Design Jury will use this feedback to help inform their recommendation for one design team.
The Design Jury includes respected landscape architects and professionals with a range of expertise in urban park design excellence, culture, public art and Indigenous placekeeping.
More information about the competition, including eligibility and timelines can be found at toronto.ca/229RichmondPark
