View the winners here [
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The 2021 Design Excellence Awards Program categories have been established to recognize examples of design excellence in several fields and contexts:
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Building of Significance Award
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Institutional Building Award
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Community Design Award
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Open Space & Public Realm Award
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Urban Intensification Award
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People’s Choice Award *NEW*
Submit Now
General Award Eligibility
Architects, landscape architects, designers, engineers, planners, developers, consultants, owners and individuals are eligible to compete. All projects must be located within the City of Markham and have been completed prior to August 27, 2021 and within the last six years.
People’s Choice Award Eligibility
All submissions nominated in any of the previous years and all entries for this year's Awards are automatically qualified for this category.
Call for Submissions: Monday, June 28, 2021
Last Day for Submissions: Friday, August 27, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST
People’s Choice Award Voting Period: Monday, October 4 – Friday, October 22, 2021
Jury Day: Thursday, September 16, 2021
Virtual Awards Gala: Thursday, October 28, 2021
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:
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Low-Rise Building: Maximum building height of 3 storeys
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Mid-Rise Building: Maximum building height of 8 storeys
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Meet the 2021 Design Excellence Awards Jury Panel Members
2014 Awards
Jury Award
Buildings of Significance
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Pan Am Centre
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Cornell Community Centre
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Stiver Mill
Community Design
Open Space & Public Realm
Award of Merit
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Gallery House
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Civic Mall
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Nexus & the Verdale
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68 Main Street
2010 Awards
Design Leadership & Innovation, Sustainable Design
Buildings of Significance
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Bill Crothers Secondary School
Community Design
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Grand Cornell Neighbourhood
Open Space
Urban Intensification
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Downtown Markham’s Rouge Bijou
Award of Merit
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Eko Markham Centre
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The Shoppes of Box Grove
2006 Awards
Buildings of Significance
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Angus Glen Community Centre & Library
Award of Merit
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Valloncliffe Estates
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Mattamy Cornell Live-Work Units
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Markhaven Home for Seniors
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Times Galleria Masterplan
2003 Awards
Neighbourhood Wide Significance
Award of Merit
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Markville Mall
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Greensborough Town
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Centre Park
2001 Awards
Town Wide Significance
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Civic Centre District Phase 1
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First Markham Village
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Town Centre Homes
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Millennium Park
Community Wide Significance
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South Unionville Storm Water Management Facility
Neighbourhood Wide Significance
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Leitchcroft Common Village Green
Innovation and Creativity
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Steelcase Canada Limited Headquarters
Quality of Execution
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IBM Facility for Software Development
Award of Merit
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Angus Glen Clubhouse
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Apple Creek Business Park
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First Markham Place
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The Derby Tower
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Sunrise of Unionville
People’s Choice Award
1999 Awards
Town Wide Significance
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Cornell Neighbourhood Commercial Centre
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Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery
Community Wide Significance
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Berczy Village Stormwater Management Pond
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Nordlingen Park & Stormwater Management Pond
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Residence, 132 Main St. Unionville
Neighbourhood Wide Significance
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Residence, 17 Euclid St., Unionville
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Swan Lake Village
Innovation and Creativity
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Citizen Court, 4118-14th Avenue (at Birchmount)
Quality of Execution
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Berczy Village Entrance Gates
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South Creek Corporate Centre, 165 South Creek Dr.
Halley Patel
Urban Design Coordinator
101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario L3R 9W3
Phone: 905.477.7000 extension 2059
E-mail: hpatel@markham.ca
What are the Design Excellence Awards?
The Urban Design Excellence Awards recognizes, celebrates and inspires design in the City of Markham. Awards are given out to projects that have raised the bar through innovative, visionary thinking.
Who is eligible to submit?
Architects, landscape architects, designers, engineers, planners, developers, consultants, owners and any other member of the public are eligible to submit a project.
What types of development are eligible to submit?
All types of development are eligible including industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, heritage, streetscapes, parks and public space.
Can I submit my project under more than one category?
Yes, you may submit your project under any applicable category.
What if my project is still under construction?
All projects have to be completed prior to August 27, 2021 and within the last six years. If your project is still under construction you are not eligible to submit.
What is the difference between an Award of Excellence and an Award of Merit?
An Award of Excellence is given to a project that best exemplifies the judging criteria while going above and beyond City requirements. An award of merit is given to a project that exhibited many excellent design traits worthy of an honourable mention.
