See the 2022 Biennial Design Award winners across five design categories
Established in 2020, Niagara Region is hosting a bi-annual design awards program that builds on the former Niagara Community Design Awards.
This second instalment of the awards program will continue to celebrate the role of design in the enhancement of Niagara's unique and diverse built environments.
Julia van der Laan de Vries
289-969-5146
Khaldoon Ahmad
905-321-1604
Email Niagara Biennial Awards
The awards will be judged by a jury panel. All projects must be located within the municipal boundaries of Niagara region and be completed between Jan. 1, 2020 and Sept. 16, 2022. Enduring design projects must be completed before Dec. 31, 2019.
Unbuilt projects, such as a plan, study or vision of an area that proposes a development or redevelopment strategy for an inspired urban environment.
Submission types: Urban design studies, master plans, secondary plans, district plans and community plans
Judging criteria
Comprehensiveness - Demonstrates a multi-layered approach to the evolution of the design and its integration into the given context or site
Innovation - Highlights new ideas, approaches and technologies towards the conceptualization of design of the built environment
Stakeholder engagement - Degree to which stakeholders were involved in the shaping of the project
Eligibility
Project must be submitted to and endorsed by the local municipality in which the project is located.
Large-scale built projects providing places for people to live, work, play and learn. This includes multi-modal options and a diversity of land use and built form.
Submission types: Communities such as mixed-use developments, subdivisions, large infill projects, greenfield and brownfield redevelopments
Judging criteria
Comprehensiveness - Project is informed by the Region's Model Urban Design Guidelines, Complete Street Guidelines, other relevant guidelines, and demonstrates best practices in urban design
Innovation - Highlights new ideas and approaches to the design of the built environment
Vibrancy - Project evokes a sense of place and successfully invites people to enter and experience the community
Sustainability - Includes features related to sustainable community design, including green buildings, green energy and green infrastructure
Eligibility
The project must be:
Small-scale, outdoor projects that are permanent or temporary in nature, and located on public or private lands. They are designed to improve an urban space or condition.
Submission types: Streetscaping, placemaking elements, pop-up spaces, urban amenities, seasonal installations and active transportation enhancements
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits design excellence through use of materials, composition and installation to enhance the surrounding built environment
Innovation - Highlights new ideas and approaches to the design of the built environment
Vibrancy - Project successfully invites people to enter and experience the space
Eligibility
The project must be:
New building (or group of buildings) of high architectural standards which achieves design excellence through its relationship with its immediate surroundings and the urban fabric.
Submission types: Projects will be grouped together by the jury panel, based on built form typologies
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits architectural excellence through massing, orientation, scale, materiality and composition
Contextual response - Project is well-integrated into the surrounding context and contributes to the urban fabric
Sustainability - Includes features such as sustainable building design elements, green energy and green infrastructureEligibility
The project must be:
Additions or renovations to existing buildings. Projects will achieve design excellence through their relationship with the existing built form and the immediate surroundings.
Submission types: Projects will be grouped together by the jury panel based on the type of building alteration, for example, facade improvement, adaptive re-use, etc.
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits architectural excellence through massing, orientation, scale, materiality, composition and contextual response.
Sustainability - Includes features such as sustainable building design elements, green energy and green infrastructure.Eligibility
The project must be:
Installation of a publicly accessible interior design project that is within a newly constructed building.
Submission types: Projects will be grouped together by the jury panel
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits interior design excellence through functionality, materiality and creativity
Innovation - Highlights new ideas and approaches to the design of building interiors
Sustainability - Includes features such as sustainable building design elements, green energy and green infrastructure
Eligibility
The project must be:
Installation of a publicly accessible interior design project within an existing building.
Submission types: Projects will be grouped together by the jury panel based on the type of type of project, for example, adaptive re-use, historical restoration, etc.
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits interior design excellence through functionality, materiality and creativity
Innovation - Highlights new ideas and approaches to the design of building interiors
Sustainability - Includes features such as sustainable building design elements, green energy and green infrastructure
Eligibility
The project must be:
Publicly accessible outdoor landscape spaces, located on municipal or conservation area lands.
Submission types: Streetscapes, urban plazas, parks, trails, open spaces, naturalized areas and outdoor community facilities
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits landscape architectural excellence through materiality, functionality, integration with the immediate surroundings and positive contributions to civic life
Vibrancy - Project successfully invites people to explore and experience the space in a variety of ways
Sustainability - Includes features such as sustainable landscape practices, bio-diversity, low-impact development and green infrastructure
Eligibility
The project must be:
Outdoor publicly accessible landscape spaces located on private lands. This includes landscape areas both at grade and on structures.
Submission types: Projects will be grouped together by the jury panel
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits landscape architectural excellence through functionality, materiality and positive relationship with the public realm
Vibrancy - Project contributes to positive experiences of an outdoor space
Sustainability - Includes features such as sustainable landscape practices, bio-diversity, low-impact development and green infrastructureEligibility
The project must be:
Publicly accessible outdoor art installations located on either private or public lands.
Submission types: Murals, sculptures, art installations, light / video / digital projects, custom site or street furnishings
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits design excellence through creativity, execution and positive contributions to the public realm
Vibrancy - Project successfully invites people to experience the art pieceEligibility
The project must be:
Any built form or landscape project completed before Dec. 31, 2019. Submissions must clearly demonstrate the design legacy impact of the project.
Submission types: Projects will be grouped together by the jury panel
Judging criteria
Quality of execution - Project exhibits design excellence by continuing to be an influencing power within the community.
Legacy impact - Project continues to resonate with people, demonstrating an enduring quality of design.
Eligibility
The project must be:
Student design projects that seek to provide a design solution specific to the Niagara context.
Submission types: Student design projects can be submitted within any of the design categories.
Judging criteria
Comprehensiveness - Addresses factors including contextual integration, contributions to public realm and sustainability.
Innovation - Highlights new ideas and approaches to the design of the built environment.
Eligibility
The student project must be:
Learn about the award winners from our inaugural Niagara Biennial Design Awards.