Urban Design Advisory Panel looking for two professional architects to volunteer for its next two-year term

By Pepper Parr

March 26th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

The City Urban Design Advisory Panel is looking for two professional architects to volunteer for its next two-year term starting in May 2024.

The mandate of the Burlington Urban Design Advisory Panel is to provide independent, objective and professional urban design advice to the Community Planning Department on tall and mid-rise buildings, five storeys or greater, and public development projects, studies and policy initiatives to help achieve design excellence in the city.

While we are looking at a rendering the sweep of the roof line looks interesting. City developed buildings tend to be more attractive that what Burlington gets from the private sector.

Background

 The City of Burlington is at a unique time in its history. With very little greenfield left for development of suburban-type neighbourhoods, the city can no longer grow out. Instead, it must grow from within its existing urban area.

 Eligibility

Candidates will be highly qualified professional architects and currently have full membership for a minimum of ten years with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) or the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (RAIC).

Candidates will also have a broad range of professional design experience such as:

1. A domestic and international work portfolio;
2. Project expertise with a variety of building scales and types including tall, mid-, and low-rise buildings;
3. Demonstrated leadership in city building;
4. Construction techniques, financial management and feasibility;
5. Application of sustainable design methods.

Three towers on what is a patch of land. The open areas offer some hope if there is interesting retail at grade. There is mention of park space that is north of the three towers. Not much information on when the park will be in place. The apartments and condo units are ugly, there isn’t much in the way of good architecture – looks like Soviet style housing from the 80’s

Panel Meetings

The Panel meets once a month during regular business hours. Each meeting will be approximately four hours long with a maximum of three projects reviewed per meeting.

 For more information on the Burlington Urban Design Advisory Panel please visit www.burlington.ca/UDP.

 Application

Candidates should submit:

1. A cover letter and CV summarizing their qualifications, experience and interest in participating on Burlington’s Urban Design Advisory Panel;
2. Confirmation that they are able to attend all meetings during their term; and
3. Their ability to provide independent, objective, professional urban design advice to the City of Burlington Community Planning Department.

Submissions should be emailed with the subject heading ‘Urban Design Advisory Panel’ by
Friday, April 19, 2024 to:

Silvia Laban, MPl, Planner – Urban Design – 905-335-7600, ext. 7186   silvia.laban@burlington.ca

Selected candidates will be contacted in late April to arrange an interview with City staff, if necessary.

www.burlington.ca/UDP

The Gazette can’t recall a single site that was improved by comments from the panel.  Having a panel in place is a start – having a panel that calls for innovation and higher standards would be welcome.  Oddly a developer with a reputation that needs some help has built some of the more attractive developments in the city.