NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGION
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Excellence and innovation in the design of Niagara’s built environment was celebrated on Thursday as the winners of the Niagara Biennial Design Awards were announced at a ceremony held on Jan. 30, 2025. This marked the third installment of Niagara’s Biennial Design Awards, Niagara Region’s bi-annual program that began in 2020.
Recognizing excellence in public art, architecture and design, the awards demonstrate the valuable cultural and economic contribution of designers and patrons to Niagara region. The awards were open to owners, developers, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, engineers, interior designers, artists and students with a project located within Niagara Region’s boundaries completed between August 2022 and August 2024.
A five-member jury of design professionals chose eight winners from 32 submissions across eight categories covering visionary design, urban design, interior public spaces, architecture, landscape architecture, outdoor art, enduring design, and student designs.
Three Niagara-on-the-Lake projects were recognized at the awards this year. The Glendale diverging double diamond interchange wan an Award of Excellence in the Enduring Design category. The new Heritage Gateway at the foot of Mississagua St. and Vineyard Square in St. Davids were both recognized with a Certificate of Acknowledgement.
2024 Niagara Biennial: List of Award Recipients:
Grand Prize Winner: The Exchange | Niagara Falls
Grand Prize Winner: Jordan Village Public Realm Revitalization, Town of Lincoln
Outstanding Achievement (Landscape Architecture): Coronation Park Improvement, Grimbsy
Outstanding Achievement (Outdoor Art): ReNew the View; St. Catharines
Award of Excellence (Enduring Design): Glendale Diverging Diamond Interchange, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Award of Excellence (Landscape Architecture): Casablanca Waterfront Park; Grimsby
Award of Excellence (Landscape Architecture): First Nations Peace Monument; Thorold
Award of Excellence (Outdoor Art): Public Art at the Exchange; Niagara Falls
Projects the Jury wished to acknowledge with a Certificate of Acknowledgment:
- Fonthill Abbey; Town of Pelham
- Urban Studios Redefined; St. Catharines
- Vineyard Square in St. Davids; Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Copacabana Restaurant; Niagara Falls
- Sanctuary Suites on Elm; Port Colborne
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage District Feature (Gateway Project); Niagara-on-the-Lake
More details about the awards and the winning projects.
Quotes:
“The Niagara Biennial Design Awards are an excellent opportunity to celebrate the richness and diversity of the design work that enhances Niagara’s unique and vibrant public spaces. On behalf of Regional Council, I would like to thank all those who submitted entries and I congratulate the 2024 winners and their project teams. I would also like to sincerely thank the jury members and organizers for generously giving their time and energy to make these awards such a resounding success.” – Niagara Regional Chair, Jim Bradley
“The Niagara Biennial Design Awards is a unique opportunity to exhibit the talent that Niagara’s businesses and organizations demonstrate in bringing great design to our communities. These contributions to design excellence in the planning and building of our communities creates not only places to live, but to thrive.” –Diana Morreale, Director Growth Management and Planning
“Design excellence is a cornerstone of Niagara's continued economic success. The projects recognized through the Niagara Biennial Design Awards not only enhance our built environment but also support the broader economic vision of attracting businesses, fostering sustainable growth, and strengthening our creative cluster. These submissions reinforce the value of design in shaping a region that is innovative, prosperous, and welcoming to the global market.” – George Spezza, Director of Economic Development, Niagara Region
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