Building of Significance Award

This award is given to a building that responds to local context and successfully integrates into the community through its design excellence. The following sub-categories may be considered for this award to reflect the range of building scales within the City of Markham:

• Low-Rise Building: Maximum building height of 3 storeys

• Mid-Rise Building: Maximum building height of 8 storeys

• High-Rise Building: Over 8 storeys
  
  

Institutional Building Award

This award is given to a civic building that has become a new icon or landmark on a citywide scale.

It successfully integrates with the existing local community while meeting the needs of the City of Markham as a whole.

• Example: Museums, Art Galleries, Cultural Centres, Schools or Scientific Campuses

Community Design Award

This award is given to a plan that creates a model for a compact, pedestrian-friendly community while fostering a sense of place through a variety of well-placed and well-designed parks; human-scaled built form that supports the public realm; and a strong and varied architectural character that reinforces the overall community design.

• Example: Low, medium or high density residential or mixed-use project that contributes to a community-oriented neighborhood or precinct context
  
  

Open Space & Public Realm Award

This award is given to a plan that shows a fresh and new approach to the treatment of open spaces. The project should exhibit design excellence in terms of size, context and relationship to built form, while responding to the needs of the surrounding community.

• Example: Public parks, public or private open spaces, urban plazas or landscaped areas, including stormwater facilities, landscape restorations or rehabilitations
  
  

Urban Intensification Award

This award is given to a project that demonstrates strong urban presence through exemplary place-making efforts and efficient use of public infrastructure. The relationship of buildings and spaces should reinforce the public realm to create a pedestrian-friendly environment in the existing urbanized area while supporting design excellence.

• Example: Urban infill, mixed-use and transit-oriented development (TOD) of any size and scale
  
  

People’s Choice Award *NEW*

The nominee with the most public votes will receive the People’s Choice Award for the 2021 Urban Design Excellence Award. All submissions previously awarded and this year's submissions are qualified to receive this award. Voting will occur online through YourVoiceMarkham.