Ottawa – An accomplished group of architects and landscape architects today revealed the detailed designs for the new Lansdowne.

The plans and images were shown to City Council members and media at a technical briefing featuring some of the top architectural design talent in North America.

“This is an exciting and innovative vision for the new Lansdowne,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “It will transform Lansdowne into the magnificent asset it ought to be, making it a lively and special place for residents from all parts of the city.”

“City Council promised that Lansdowne would not be just another commercial development. Council said it must be a special place, well designed for its urban context and in tune with its heritage value,” said Councillor Peter Hume, Chair of Planning Committee and a member of the Lansdowne Design Review Panel. “Through the extraordinary design-review process of the last two years, that has been accomplished.”

“Two years ago I said Lansdowne had lost its way. It had become a fondly remembered piece of Ottawa’s heritage that was no longer working in its role as a city landmark,” said George Dark, the prominent landscape architect and urban planner who is a member of the Lansdowne Design Review Panel. “Today we are well on our way to having a design that will build a special urban place.”

The design work of the last two years involved integration of the three elements of the project – a large new park, a re-designed stadium and Civic Centre, and a village of boutique shops and stores, services and residences – into a single plan. The work involved the detailing of buildings and planning for how the open space, heritage buildings and greenspace could be used.

Presenters at the technical briefing included:

• Jeffrey Staates, a senior landscape architect with Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, the Vancouver firm that won the international design competition for the urban park at Lansdowne. Mr. Staates spoke about the park.
• Julian Smith, a heritage conservation architect who has established an international reputation for his work in the conservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of historic properties. Mr. Smith was the lead architect in the restoration of the Aberdeen Pavilion in the 1990s. He spoke about the heritage of Lansdowne, specifically the treatment of the Horticulture Building.
• Robert Claiborne, the design leader at Cannon Design’s Toronto office, who has more than 20 years of practice experience with architecture and has taught in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Mr. Claiborne spoke about the design for the redeveloped stadium and Civic Centre.
• John Clifford, a principal at Perkins Eastman in New York, who has over 25 years of experience in the design and construction of retail and mixed-use developments across North America. Mr. Clifford spoke about the commercial and residential village next to Bank Street.

There are several key themes that have emerged from the landscape and building-design work, and the programming discussions, of the last two years.

These include:

• Connecting Lansdowne to its commercial and residential neighbours in the Glebe and Old Ottawa South, and the historic businesses along Bank Street. The design of the commercial and residential buildings aims to make the new parts of Lansdowne a strong part of the surrounding community;
• Turning the asphalt at Lansdowne into an impressive park, with expanses of lawn, courtyards, a heritage orchard, an outdoor curling rink and a children’s garden − all anchored by a relocated Horticulture Building;
• A re-imagined stadium and a refurbished Civic Centre with a new look that better integrates effectively into the green landscape beside the Rideau Canal, including a unique wooden curtain around a new south-side stands.

An update on the redeveloped Lansdowne will be presented to the Finance and Economic Development Committee on February 16 and for consideration by Council on February 22.

To view images of the new Lansdowne please visit ottawa.ca.