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Published March 22, 2023 at 1:16 pm

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Mississauga’s search for “the next big thing” when it comes to the best in architectural and design accomplishments the city has to offer has stepped into high gear.

Submissions for the 2023 Mississauga Urban Design Awards, which pay tribute to the most innovative, interesting and inspiring projects to recently land within the city’s borders, close in just a few weeks, on April 14.

From there, a jury of members from the design community and one Mississauga city councillor will study all entries and then select winners in the various categories to be announced in the fall. 

Submissions for the latest awards, which carry the theme “The Next Big Thing,” opened last November.

City of Mississauga officials behind the awards describe the latest program as “a celebration of excellence for innovative, dynamic, trendsetting urban design projects that are transforming Mississauga.”

The Mississauga Urban Design Awards competition, held every two years, began in 1981 and is the longest-running awards program of its kind in Ontario. 

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Absolute World Tower, which redefined Mississauga’s skyline, is a past Urban Design Awards winner. (Photo: City of Mississauga)

The Urban Design Awards aim to inspire and celebrate design leaders who help raise the quality of life for residents by shaping Mississauga’s diverse cityscape, City officials say. 

“The awards are a great opportunity to recognize the designers, architects, developers and builders who have played a critical role in our efforts to build a world-class city. These private and public spaces beautify our city and provide much-needed greenspaces, public art and facilities for businesses and residents to enjoy,” Mayor Bonnie Crombie said back when the 2021 Urban Design Awards were presented.

In selecting winners in various categories, the jury evaluates entries on a citywide and community scale, taking into account living green, innovation, context, execution and healthy development elements.

All entries must be located within Mississauga and have been completed when the submission is received by the City.

Owners, architects, designers, landscape architects, developers or others who have played a key role in the design, development or construction may nominate a project, the City says.

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Celebration Square in Mississauga’s downtown core is another past award winner in the Urban Design Awards competition.

Interior design projects, plans and proposals as well as previously nominated projects are not eligible.

Nominated projects are eligible for the following awards:

  • Award of Excellence: given to projects that demonstrate excellence across all judging criteria
  • Award of Merit: given to projects that demonstrate excellence in one or more of the judging criteria
  • Healthy by Design: given to projects that exemplify the six Healthy Community Design elements of density, service proximity, land use mix, street connectivity, streetscape characteristics and parking

The Mississauga Urban Design Awards also include a People’s Choice Award given to the project that receives the most public support through online voting.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award will begin in June.

Projects submitted must include:

  • exterior photos of your project (minimum of five)
  • brief project description
  • names and email addresses of key project contributors
  • signed consent form from the project owner for the jury to visit the project site

For more information, search Urban Design Awards on the City of Mississauga’s website.

As they prepare for the 2023 awards competition, Mississauga officials recently took a look back at previous Urban Design Awards winners that helped shape Mississauga’s lakeshore communities.

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