HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv - 2016-02-18 - Item 1 - Kitcheners Great Places Awards - Sustainable Kitchener
Date:January 26, 2016
To:Dianna Saunderson, Committee Administrator (Environmental
Committee)
From: Lenore Ross, Urban Designer, Planning Division
Subject: Request for Environmental Committee representative
REQUEST
That the City of Kitchener Environmental Committee appoints a representative to serve on the
judging committee for the Sustainable Kitchener Award.
BACKGROUND
Janine Oosterveld, Manager of Site Development and Customer Service, took a report to
Council last autumn regarding an update to the City’s Urban Design Awards programme. The
revised programme will be called Kitchener’s Great Places Awards and includes a
representative of the Environmental Committee on the judging panel for the Sustainable
Kitchener Award – see attached report.
The Sustainable Kitchener Award is a component of Kitchener’s Great Places Awards and is a
new city award that will be “…given to civic or private development projects that demonstrate
innovation and exceptional design with respect to: sustainable development, water
conservation, energy conservation and generation, air quality, waste reduction and
management, supporting active transportation and transit-oriented development.” “The
Sustainable Kitchener Award category is open to projects that have one or more prominent
sustainability component per Official Plan policies pertaining to sustainable development, water
conservation, energy conservation and generation, air quality, waste reduction and
management, and/or supporting active transportation and transit-oriented development. These
projects include new developments as well as adaptive reuse of existing buildings, building
additions or renovations. Parks, open spaces, public utilities, street and site improvements and
civic structures are also eligible.” To be eligible for consideration for this award “the project
must have received all required approvals, is constructed and substantially complete within the
past four years or since the prior Awards program call for nominations, whichever is greater.”
The judging committee will be composed of: Manager, Long Range & Policy Planning (or
designate); Director, Transportation Planning (or designate); Manager, Stormwater Utility (or
designate); Environmental Committee representative; up to three environmental professionals
which would cover such expertise as active transportation, environmental planning and
engineering.
EXPECTED COMMITMENT
The expected time commitment for this appointment will be brief and will likely involve a single
half-day, on-site review of the nominated and short-listed eligible projects. The judging day will
be scheduled for a mutually convenient time, likely in late June or early July of 2016.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 2, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning
PREPARED BY: Janine Oosterveld,Manager, Site Development &
Customer Service,519-741-2200 ext. 7076
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: Date
REPORT NO.: CSD-15-083
SUBJECT: Urban Design Awards Program Update
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council endorses the awards program as outlined in CSD-15-083
BACKGROUND:
Urban Design Awards program recognizes development projects that
exemplify design excellence and create a built environment that enhances our quality of life.It
provides Kitchener with an opportunity to celebrate the successes in urban design that help to
support our great city.
In 1988 Council endorsed the idea of presenting Urban Design Awards in recognition of projects
which demonstrate superior design. Since then, the City of Kitchener has presented Urban
Design Awards about every two years. In 2010 Council approved an amendment to the Urban
Design Awards program to recognize specific categories of Urban Design projects with a more
rigorous evaluation process to increase the meaningfulness and prestige of the awards. There
were also changes to the judging committee composition and the format in which the awards
are presented.
The Mike Wagner Heritage Awards were established in 1997 to pay tribute to property owners
and businesses who have contributed to the conservation of cultural heritage resources. Since
2011, the Urban Design Awards and Mike Wagner Heritage Awards have been celebrated in a
joint ceremony.
awards program to ensure it aligns with the new policy framework and recognizes projects that
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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REPORT:
This report proposes that a comprehensive planning awards program be established to
celebrate a broader range of categories under one program event. This comprehensive
program would include both Urban Design and Mike Wagner Heritage awards, and add new
categories.It is proposed that the new format be initiated with the next awards program event.
Summary of proposed changes:
Rebranding of the awards into a comprehensive program called
Places Awards
that includes a number of categories including urban design, heritage
and sustainability.
Updated names to the award categories for some of the current urban design awards.
3additional award categories:
Sustainable Kitchener Award
celebrating innovation and exceptional
o
sustainability measures in site design,
-recognizing a project that the community recognizes
o
as important in making Kitchener a great place,
Schmalz Award for Design Leadership
celebrating the best overall project.
o
Refinements to the eligibility requirements and judging committee composition,
addressing the broader diversity of award categories.
Current Awards Program model:
The current awards program is typically held every 2 years in a joint event celebrating both the
Urban Design Awards and the Mike Wagner Heritage Awards. There are seven categories for
the Urban Design Awards noted below:
1. Low Rise Buildings (1- 3 storeys)
2. Mid to High Rise Buildings (4 storeys and up)
3. Civic Projects
4. Urban Elements
5. Visions/ Master Plans
6. Neighbourhood Design
7. Student Projects
The Mike Wagner Heritage Award program has three award categories: Preservation /
Restoration of Cultural Heritage Resources; Rehabilitation / Adaptive Reuse of Cultural Heritage
Resources; and, Individual Contributions to the Field of Heritage Conservation.No changes are
proposed to this award other than its integration into the broader program.
Proposed Award Program Model:
Awards program is proposed to include a number of categories to
celebrate design excellence in the areas of urban design, sustainability and heritage
below:
1. Urban Design Excellence Award.
This award may be given in various categories in
recognition of civic or private projects that demonstrate urban design excellence and
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innovation in site and building design that is context-sensitive, functional,engaging and
memorable ense of place and community pride.
a. Low Rise Development projects (1- 3 storeys)
b. Mid Rise Development projects (4-8 storeys)
c. High Rise Development projects (9 storeys and up)
d. Civic Projects
Neighbourhood Design Award.
2. This award is given to exceptional approved and
substantially-built subdivisions that im
objectives including walkability, variety, place-making, conservation, connectivity, transit-
supportive and safety.
Sustainable Kitchener Award.
3.This award is given to civic or private development
projects that demonstrate innovation and exceptional design with respect to: sustainable
development, water conservation, energy conservation and generation, air quality, waste
reduction and management, supporting active transportation and transit-oriented
development.
Urban Elements Award.
4.This award is given to a distinct feature(s) that make a project
or place outstanding. Such elements could include but are not limited to public art,
landscape features, architectural elements, streetscape elements and tactical urbanism
projects. They can range from a unique feature of a larger development project to a
neighbourhood-initiated community project.
Mike Wagner Heritage Awards.
5. These awards are given to individuals and projects
. The
three award categories are:
a. Preservation / Restoration of Cultural Heritage Resources;
b. Rehabilitation / Adaptive Reuse of Cultural Heritage Resources; and,
c. Individual Contributions to the Field of Heritage Conservation.
Master Planning Award.
6.This award is given to an exceptional plan or study of a
significant area within Kitchener that provides a development strategy for urban
transformation.
Future Design Leaders Award.
7.This award is given to anexemplary secondary or
post-secondary student project that is either theoretical or studio based, focussing on
urban design, public realm or land use planning innovation with a study site located in
Kitchener.
.
8. This award is given to a project that receives the most number
of votes from the community through on-line polling and/or in person at select
locations/times. Projects for consideration shall be a short-listed group of up to 10
projects from those eligible in the Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design, Urban
Elements, Mike Wagner Heritage and Sustainable Kitchener categories that contribute to
making Kitchener a great city.
Schmalz Award for Design Leadership.
9.This award is given to an exceptional project
in two or more
categories - urban design, heritage conservation, and sustainable design.It represents
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the best overall project of the awards program. Staff is recommending it be named after
(which is now a landmark in Victoria Park) along with numerous other buildings in the
City. His father, W.H. Schmalz, was mayor when the Town of Berlin became a City.
As with the existing program, in order to maintain the integrity of the awards as honouring
excellence in the respective categories, generally, one award will be granted per category. At
more than one project awarded per category
if each project warrants the honour. Awards will not be granted to projects that do not meet
the eligibility requirements (Appendix A). The Judging Committee may also choose to
reallocate a project to the most appropriate category for consideration or determine that an
award will not be given in a particular category.
Timing of the Awards Program:
Staff is recommending that the Awards program be held every four years, during the third year
of a term of Council for a number of reasons. Staff wants to ensure that an adequate group of
eligible projects are available for nomination for each awards program. Large and more
complex projects may take 2 or more years to complete. Given the resources (staff time and
financial) that go into the execution of an Awards program, it is important to have enough
candidate projects to award at least five outstanding projects in one program event. If Council
supports this recommendation, the next awards program would be held in 2017.
Should Council choose to continue with an awards program every two years, staff will host the
awards in 2016. Prior to initiating each upcoming program, staff will evaluate whether or there
appear to be enough candidate projects to potentially award in five categories. If the pool of
candidates is very limited, staff will report to Council about the option for postponing the
program for a year.
Proposed Overall Award Program Process
Staff is recommending that program follow the process
outlined below.
Staff initiates a call for nominations through social media, , in the local
newspaper, notifying targeted groups and providing application information to all Site
Plans approved within the nomination deadline.
Nominations are submitted in accordance with the eligibility requirements outlined in
Appendix A.
The staff subcommittee reviews nominated projects and short-lists projects for the
Judging Committees (refer to Appendix B) ;
The Judging Committees review the short-listed projects to determine final award
winners in the categories of: Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design, Sustainable
Kitchener, Urban Elements,Master Planning andFuture Design Leaders andthe
Schmalz Award for Design Leadership;
The community votes on-line and/or in-person (at a specific event(s)/or location and
Award.
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Awards are presented at a reception to be held on a day that does not conflict with
regularly scheduled Council meetings.
Staff submits a report summarizing the award winners to Council for information.
Award winning projects shall be displayed on
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the C
through the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The awards program will be planned within the current budget allocation.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
committee meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Staff is supportive of updating the current awards program into the comprehensive
Great Places Awards as described in this report including:
updated names to the award categories for some of the current urban design awards;
3 additional award categories: Sustainable Kitchener Award,,
and the Schmalz Award for Design Leadership;
hosting of the program every four years in t
refinements to the eligibility requirements and judging committee composition for the
various award categories.
The Awards program is an excellent opportunity to celebrate projects that make Kitchener a
thriving and memorable community.
REVIEWED BY:
Brandon Sloan, Manager, Long Range and Policy Planning
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Michael May, Deputy CAO (Community Services)
Attachments:
Appendix A.
Eligibility Requirements
Appendix B.
Judging
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Appendix A. Eligibility Requirements
All Categories:
1. Anyone can nominate a project members of the public, property owners, consultants
etc.
2. Nominated projects must with -law and
Urban Design Manual.
3. Project entries from aprevious City of Kitchener awards program in the same category
are not eligible.
4. Mike Wagner Heritage Awards nominations shall follow the currently approved program
criteria.
5. Interior design projects are not eligible.
6. Nominations shall comply with detailed specifications including written application, and
material other supporting material as described in the call for nominations and application
form(s).
Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design and Urban Elements Awards:
1. Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design and Urban Elements award categories shall be
open to all publicly visible or accessible urban development projects in the City of
Kitchener. These include subdivisions, site development of a building or group of
buildings,adaptive reuse of existing buildings, building additions or exterior renovations.
Parks, open spaces, public utilities, street improvements and civic structures are also
eligible.
2. Urban Elements nominees shall be adistinct feature(s) that make a project or place
outstanding. Such elements could include but are not limited to public art, landscape
features, architectural elements, streetscape elements and tactical urbanism projects.
They can be part of a new development or a new/renovated feature in an existing
development, neighbourhood or public space.
3. The project has received all required approvals,is constructed and substantially
complete within the past four years or since the prior Awards program call for
nominations, whichever is greater.
4. Projects that do not have a public realm component (such as private gardens or
backyards) are not eligible.
Sustainable Kitchener Award:
1. The Sustainable Kitchener Award category is open to projects that have one or more
prominent sustainability component per Official Plan policies pertaining to sustainable
development, water conservation, energy conservation and generation, air quality, waste
reduction and management, and/or supporting active transportation and transit-oriented
development. These projects include new developments as well as adaptive reuse of
existing buildings, building additions or renovations. Parks, open spaces, public utilities,
street and site improvements and civic structures are also eligible.
2. The project has received all required approvals, is constructed and substantially
complete within the past four years or since the prior Awards program call for
nominations, whichever is greater.
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Master Planning Award:
1. Master planning projects may include such projects as approved urban design briefs and
development strategies such as subdivision or major infill master plans, site specific
urban design briefs or master plans, infill property master plans, and streetscape master
plans within the City of Kitchener.
2. The master plan must have received applicable approvals within the past four years or
since the prior Awards program call for nominations, whichever is greater.
3. Nominations in this category must clearly demonstrate comprehensive evaluation,
innovation in recommendations, and alignment with the City of Kitchener policy
framework.
Future Design Leaders Award
:
1. Student projects must be completed through a secondary or post-secondary school
program within four school years of the call for nominations.
2. The studio or theoretical project must pertain to a site or location within the City of
Kitchener addressing urban design, sustainability, heritage conservation and/or land use
planning.
3. Nominations for the Future Design Leaders Award must be acknowledged by and
provide contact information for a member of the school faculty.
4. Nominations in this category must clearly demonstrate comprehensive evaluation of the
project context, innovation in recommendations and/or conclusions, and alignment with
the City of Kitchener policy framework.
Choice Award:
1.
Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design, Urban Elements, Mike Wagner Heritage and
Sustainable Kitchener categories.
2. Nominees for this category must have a publically visible and accessible component.
Schmalz Award for Design Leadership:
1. Nominees for the Schmalz Award for Design Leadership shall be the winning projects in
the Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design, Mike Wagner Heritage and Sustainable
Kitchener categories.
2. The selected project shall demonstrate excellence in two or more categories: urban
design, heritage conservation and sustainability but do not have to be award recipients
in more than one category.
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Appendix C. Judging
Staff Sub-committee
A subcommittee comprised of City staff representing Planning, Transportation Services,
Building, and Engineering divisions and led by Planning staff is responsible for short-listing
projects for the Judging Committees
Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design & Urban Elements Awards
Members of the Judging Committee should include:
Chair of the Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee
Director of Planning (or designate)
up to four professionals which would cover such expertise as urban planning, urban
design, architecture, and landscape architecture
a representative of a local post-secondary institution
This Judging Committee is responsible for final determination of award winning projects in the
following categories: Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design, and Urban Elements.
Sustainable Kitchener Award
Members of the Judging Committee should include:
Manager, Long Range & Policy Planning (or designate)
Director, Transportation Planning (or designate)
Manager, Stormwater Utility (or designate)
Environmental Committee representative
up to three environmental professionals which would cover such expertise as active
transportation, environmental planning and engineering.
This Judging Committee is responsible for final determination of the award winning project in the
Sustainable Kitchener Award category.
Master Planning & Future Design Leaders Awards
Members of the Judging Committee should include:
a minimum of two staff subcommittee representatives
a representative of a local post-secondary institution
This Judging Committee is responsible for final determination of the award winning projects in
the Master Planning & Future Design Leaders Award categories.
Mike Wagner Heritage Awards
The current selection and judging criteria are proposed to remain the same.
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Schmalz Award for Design Leadership
Members of the Schmalz Award for Design Leadership Judging Committee should include:
Mayor of the City of Kitchener
a representative of a local post-secondary institution
Executive Director, Economic Development (or designate)
Deputy CAO, Community Services (or designate)
a representative of Compass Kitchener
This Committee will review the award winners for Urban Design, Neighbourhood Design,
Sustainable Kitchener and Mike Wagner Heritage Awards to select the best overall project.
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