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.
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 [LINK]
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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