Spadina Wavedeck Recognized By National Urban Design Awards

June 10, 2010, Toronto, ON— The Spadina WaveDeck has received a Certificate of Merit as part of the 2010 National Urban Design Awards. This marks the fifth time that the wavedeck has received a design or construction related award since opening in September 2008.

The National Urban Design Awards, sponsored by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects are designed to promote public and private awareness of urban design. The Spadina WaveDeck was honoured in the Civic Design category for its role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in Toronto.

“It is a tremendous honour to be recognized on a national level for our commitment to creating outstanding public spaces,” said John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “Like everything we build on the waterfront, the Spadina WaveDeck reminds us that public spaces can be both beautiful and functional.”

Designed by West 8 and du Toit Allsopp Hillier (DTAH), the Spadina WaveDeck opened in September 2008 and was the first wavedeck built along Toronto’s waterfront. Inspired in part by the Canadian cottage experience and the shorelines of Ontario’s great lakes, the Spadina WaveDeck creates more public space along one of the most heavily used parts of the Toronto shoreline.

“This design is a nice piece of art, creating an interesting node and a continuous path that accommodates all abilities and disability,” said the Awards Program Jury in its official comments. “It fully animates the urban environment.”

The Spadina WaveDeck is also the recipient of several other prestigious design awards including a Toronto Urban Design Award, a National Merit Award from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and an Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects. It was also the first Canadian project ever to be short-listed for the world-acclaimed Brit Insurance Design Awards.

Since 2005, Waterfront Toronto has completed several parks and public spaces projects in addition to the wavedecks. This summer, Canada’s Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Park will open in East Bayfront and construction starts later this fall on Underpass Park and Don River Park in the West Don Lands.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.

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Visit the project page to learn more about the Spadina WaveDeck. For more information about the landscape architects, please visit West 8's website at www.west8.com and DTAH's website at www.dtah.com.

Media Contacts:

Samantha Gileno, Waterfront Toronto