Award Winning Work
We work to ensure that everything we build on Toronto’s waterfront – from buildings to streets, parks and public art – meets or exceeds our high standards for architecture and public space. Our commitment to design and planning excellence has been recognized with a number of awards.
Waterfront Toronto projects and places have won more than 100 awards for design excellence, earning recognition in categories ranging from water management to neighbourhood development.
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Awards and nominations to date
Projects in waterfront neighbourhoods – led by Waterfront Toronto or by our design and development partners, contractors and collaborators – have earned praise on a range of dimensions including municipal, national and international. See below for a list of awards and recognitions to date.
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Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Ontario Engineering Project Awards (OEPA) 2024 Award Winner - Sustainable Development Impact Award - WSP Canada Inc. - Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure – Road Design & Civil Engineering
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- 2023 Brownie Awards: "Brownfielder of the Year" Award to David Kusturin, Waterfront Toronto's Chief Project Officer.
2023 Brownie Awards: "Reach Out" category for Communications, Marketing and Public Engagement on the Port Lands Flood Protection project. - 2023 City of Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence (Public Buildings in Context) for Tommy Thompson Entrance and Pavilion by DTAH Architects Limited
- 2023 City of Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence (Private Buildings in Context - Tall) for Harris Square by Saucier+Perrotte Architectes & ZAS (Architect), and Urban Capital (Developer)
- Royal Architectural Institute of Canada 2023 RAIC Research & Innovation in Architecture Award - Limberlost Place
- Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC -Ontario) - Ontario Engineering Project Award of Distinction for the Port Lands Bridges
- Green Good Design Award for Green Architecture from the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) 2023 Awards of Excellence for Harbourfront Centre - York Quay Revitalization - Canada Square (Medium-Scale Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect) by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. (MVVA)
- 2023 Brownie Awards: "Brownfielder of the Year" Award to David Kusturin, Waterfront Toronto's Chief Project Officer.
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- The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction: 2022 Favourite Project
- The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction: Bridge Projects
- The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction: Erection - Ingenuity - Constructability
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- Special Jury Award for Inspiring Infrastructure, 2021 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Stormwater Management Facility by gh3
- 2021 Ontario Concrete Awards: Aitken Place Park
- Special Jury Award for Inspiring Infrastructure, 2021 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Stormwater Management Facility by gh3
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- 2020 Ontario Association of Architects, Design Excellence Award, Finalist: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
- Ordre des Architectes Du Quebec, Architecture Excellence Awards, Finalist: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
- Council on Tall Buildings & Urban Habitat, Design Excellence Award - Best Tall Building Under 100 meters: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
- 2020 Ontario Association of Architects, Design Excellence Award, Finalist: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
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- 2019 Canadian Brownfield Network Award: Winner of the Best Overall Project for the Cherry Street Stormwater & Lakefilling Project; and the Port Lands Soil Reuse Program Approval
- The Port Lands Flood Protection & Enabling Infrastructure Project - Bridge Design and Engineering won a 2019 Toronto Urban Design Award in the Special Jury Award for Catalytic Infrastructure category.
- Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) Water Management Award of Excellence for outstanding projects that make a significant contribution to the protection and management of Canada’s water resources.
- American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) presented an Honor Award to The Bentway
- Ontario Concrete Awards, Mid to High Rise Residential, Cast-in-Place Award: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
- Ontario Concrete Awards, Sustainable Concrete Construction Award: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
- Canadian Green Building Council Ontario, Inspiring Home, Finalist: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3
- BILD Awards: Best Suite Design, Large for Aqualuna at Bayside
- Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA) Awards of Distinction: Project of the Year – High or Mid-Rise for Aqualuna at Bayside
- Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA) Awards of Distinction: Best Architecture – High-Rise Building for Aqualuna at Bayside
- MIPIM / Architectural Review Future Project Award - Residential Category for Aqualuna at Bayside
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- 2018 Canadian Brownfields Network Brownie Award for The Bentway in the 'REINVEST' category for financing, risk management and partnerships
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- 2017-18 Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence for the West Don Lands
- 2017 Canadian Brownfield Awards: Redevelopment at the Community Scale for East Bayfront/Bayside Development
- 2017 Canadian Brownfield Awards: Best Overall Project - Port Lands Due Diligence
- 2017 Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Lieutenant Governor's Award for Design Excellence in Architecture: River City Phase 1 & 2
- 2017 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Award of Excellence for the West Don Lands Public Realm
- 2017 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Award of Excellence for the Queens Quay Revitalization
- 2017 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Private Building in Context - Tall Category - Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 2
- Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) Willis Chipman Award to R.V. Anderson Associates Limited and DTAH for the East Bayfront Stormwater Management System
- 2017 Architectural Review/MIPIM Future Project Awards, Tall Buildings, Commended (Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3)
- Canadian Architect Awards, Award of Excellence (Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3)
- SAB Magazine Green Building Awards, Award Winner, Residential, Large Category: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 1 & 2
- Ontario Association of Architects, Design Excellence Award: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS
Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 1 & 2
- BILD Awards: Project of the Year for Aquabella at Bayside
- BILD Awards: People’s Choice Award for Aquabella at Bayside
- 2017-18 Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence for the West Don Lands
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- Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) Award of Merit for Queens Quay Revitalization
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect National Award for the West Don Lands
- Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Special Mention: City of Toronto
- Ontario Concrete Awards, Material Development & Innovation - Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 2
- Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) Award of Merit for Queens Quay Revitalization
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- 2015 Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) Brownie Award for Best Overall - Neighbourhood Scale Queens Quay Revitalization
- International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) 2015 Silver Leaf Award of Merit in the category of Special Events – External for the Official Opening of Corktown Common
- 2015 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Elements Category Award of Excellence to Paul Raff Studio for Mirage (Underpass Park)
- 2015 Toronto Urban Design Awards: Private Buildings in Context – Tall Category Award of Excellence to Urban Capital for River City Phase 1
- 2015 IABC Ovation Awards Excellence Award Winner for the Official Opening of Corktown Common
- BILD Awards, Best High-Rise Building Design (Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 3)
- 2015 AZ Awards, Award of Merit – Residential Architecture: Saucier + Perrotte Architectes / ZAS Architects, in joint venture for River City Phase 1
- BILD Awards: P2G (Places to Grow) High-rise Community of the Year for Aquavista at Bayside, recognizing Hines/Tridel for their commitment to the Province’s vision of thoughtful planning for intensification and development growth to revitalize and transform our city
- BILD Awards: Best Suite Design 750 ‐1,500 square feet for Aquavista at Bayside, “S7”
- 2015 Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) Brownie Award for Best Overall - Neighbourhood Scale Queens Quay Revitalization
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- Intelligent Community Forum 2014 Intelligent Community of the Year for the City of Toronto with Waterfront Toronto highlighted as a key catalyst for the Intelligent Community development
- Intelligent Community Forum Top 7 Designation for the City of Toronto with Waterfront Toronto highlighted as a key catalyst for the Intelligent Community development
- Intelligent Community Forum Smart 21 Designation for the City of Toronto with Waterfront Toronto highlighted as a key catalyst for the Intelligent Community development
- FCM Sustainable Communities Award in the neighbourhood development category for Corktown Common
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Awards of Excellence in the National Merit category for the Water’s Edge Promenade in East Bayfront
- Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence Award for Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion
- PUG Design Awards Nomination for River City - Phase I
- BILD Award Best Building Design – High-Rise to Tridel, Aqualina at Bayside
- BILD Award Best Places to Grow Community of the Year Award – High-Rise to Dundee Kilmer, Canary Park
- Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Great Places Award for Sugar Beach
- Popular Science 2014 “Best of What’s New” award in the Green Category for Corktown Common
- Intelligent Community Forum 2014 Intelligent Community of the Year for the City of Toronto with Waterfront Toronto highlighted as a key catalyst for the Intelligent Community development
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- Toronto Urban Design Award of Merit for Sherbourne Common
- Toronto Urban Design Award of Merit for George Brown Waterfront Campus
- Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence for West Don Lands Stormwater Conveyance System
- Intelligent Community Forum Smart 21 Designation for the City of Toronto with Waterfront Toronto highlighted as a key catalyst for the Intelligent Community development
- Intelligent Community Forum Top 7 Designation for the City of Toronto with Waterfront Toronto highlighted as a key catalyst for the Intelligent Community development
- George Brown College Project Achievement Award – Toronto Construction Association’s Best of the Best Awards
- Toronto Urban Design Award of Merit for Sherbourne Common
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- Ontario Public Works Association Project of the Year Award for Sherbourne Common
- Willis Chapman Award from the Consulting Engineers of Ontario for Sherbourne Common’s Stormwater Management System
- Ontario Concrete Award in the Structural Infrastructure Category for the West Don Lands Stormwater Treatment and Conveyance System
- Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence for Sherbourne Common
- Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award to George Brown College Health Sciences Campus for Excellence in Project Development: Neighbourhood Scale
- Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award to Underpass Park for Best Small Scale Project
- Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Special Award to Flood Protection Landform for its contribution to the Public Realm
- BILD Pinnacle Award Best Building Design - High Rise to Great Gulf Homes, Monde – Quadrangle Architects, Cecconi Simone
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Honour Award for Sherbourne Common
- American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Honor Award for Canada's Sugar Beach
- National Urban Design Award in Civic Design Projects for Canada`s Sugar Beach and Sustainable Award for Sherbourne Common
- Azure Magazine AZ People's Choice Award for Canada's Sugar Beach
- GLOBE Award for Environmental Excellence in Urban Sustainability for the Minimum Green Building Requirements
- 2012 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence to Dundee Kilmer’s Integrated Design Team for the Canary District in the West Don Lands
- Ontario Public Works Association Project of the Year Award for Sherbourne Common
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- Canadian Architect Magazine Award of Excellence for the West Don Lands stormwater treatment facility
- Sherbourne Common received the Gold Award for Landscape Architecture at the 2011 Design Exchange Awards in Toronto
- Sherbourne Common received the Architectural Hardscape Award by the Ontario Concrete Awards
- Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) Excellence in Planning Award for the Lower Don Lands Framework Plan/Keating Channel Precinct Plan
- Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence for Canada's Sugar Beach
- Toronto Urban Design Awards Honourable Mention for the Sherbourne Common Pavilion
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Regional Honour Reward for Canada’s Sugar Beach
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Regional Honour Reward for Martin Goodman Trail Improvements at Marilyn Bell Park
- 2011 IABC Toronto OVATION Award of Merit in the category of media relations for the groundbreaking and opening of Canada’s Sugar Beach
- 2011 IABC Toronto OVATION Award of Merit in the category of community relations for the “Rename Sherbourne Park Contest”
- Canadian Architect Magazine Award of Excellence for the West Don Lands stormwater treatment facility
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- BILD Pinnacle Award Best Building Design - High Rise to Urban Capital Property Group, River City Phase 1
- Best of the Best Award from the Toronto Construction Association (TCA) for East Bayfront
- Design Exchange Award for Simcoe and Rees WaveDecks
- Conde Nast Traveller Innovation and Design Award – nomination for Rees and Simcoe WaveDeck
- Royal Architectural Institute of Canada National Urban Design Awards - Certificate of Merit for the Spadina WaveDeck
- Transportation Achievement Award by the Institute of Transportation Engineers for the Lower Don Lands
- Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award for the Port Lands Pilot Soil Recycling Facility
- Living City Award: Healthy Rivers and Shorelines for the East Bayfront Integrated Stormwater Management System at Sherbourne Common
- BILD Pinnacle Award Best Building Design - High Rise to Urban Capital Property Group, River City Phase 1
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- Canadian Architect Award of Merit for the Sherbourne Common Pavilion
Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture National Honour Award for the Lake Ontario Park Master Plan - Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture National Merit Award for the Spadina WaveDeck
- American Institute of Architects Merit Award for Lower Don Lands
- American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award for General Design, Spadina WaveDeck
- BEX International Award for Best Futuristic Design for the Lower Don Lands Plan
- Spadina WaveDeck nominated for Brit’s Insurance Design Award (first Canadian project to be shortlisted for the award)
- Summit Creative Award for the Waterfront Toronto Annual Report 2007-2008
- Toronto Urban Design Award in the Small Open Space Category (Award of Excellence) for the Spadina WaveDeck
- Toronto Urban Design Award in the Vision and Master Plan Category (Honourable Mention) for the Master Plan for Lake Ontario Park
- Ontario Builders Award in the Industrial Category (Award of Excellence) for the Simcoe and Rees WaveDecks
- WoodWorks! Canadian Wood Council’s Jury’s Choice Award for the Simcoe, Rees and Spadina WaveDecks
- Canadian Architect Award of Merit for the Sherbourne Common Pavilion
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- Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Sustainable Development Award for MVVA’s Lower Don Lands design
- American Society of Landscape Architects Honor in Analysis and Planning for Port Lands Estuary: Reinventing the Don River as an Agent of Urbanism
- Public Sector Service Gold Award for Toronto Waterfront’s Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy
- Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Sustainable Development Award for MVVA’s Lower Don Lands design
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- Broadband Properties Summit Cornerstone Award for Developing a World-Class Concept for an Ultra-Broadband Community for Waterfront Toronto's Intelligent Communities
- Toronto Urban Design Award for the Port Lands Estuary Master Plan
- Toronto Urban Design Award for the Central Waterfront Master Plan
- Toronto Urban Design Award for the Harbourfront Water’s Edge Revitalization
- Toronto Urban Design Award Honourable Mention for the Quay to the City
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Merit for Central Waterfront’s Innovative Design Competition
- Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Merit for Quay to the City
- Public Sector Service Silver Award for Waterfront Toronto’s Aquatic Habitat Restoration Strategy
- Broadband Properties Summit Cornerstone Award for Developing a World-Class Concept for an Ultra-Broadband Community for Waterfront Toronto's Intelligent Communities
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Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Regional Honour for East Bayfront Precinct Plan, Public Realm and Streetscape Plan
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- Boston Society of Architects’ Millo Von Moltke Award for Urban Design for East Bayfront Precinct Plan
- Congress for the New Urbanism Charter Award for East Bayfront Precinct Plan
- Toronto Urban Design Award for the West Don Lands Precinct Plan
- Boston Society of Architects’ Millo Von Moltke Award for Urban Design for East Bayfront Precinct Plan
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- Public Sector Quality Fair Certificate of Excellence for the Precinct Planning Consultation Process in Toronto’s Waterfront