OVERVIEW
The Warren Park community is uniquely positioned in the Humber River Valley, accessible to Jane street by a single road - St. Mark's road. The stretch of roadway exiting the valley is one of Toronto's steepest mixed-used roadways. It is the only route for local students to access neighbourhood schools, for transit users to access Jane St. amongst other limitations. Toronto kids, teens, and post secondary students are invited to submit their Complete Street solution to St. Mark's Hill.
Registration is now closed.
Coming Up: Exhibit + Awards
You're invited to view student submission on April 15th from 2-5pm at Lambton House, Toronto, for an open house exhibition event.
1. DESIGN BRIEF
Project Goal:
Using the Complete Streets model, design a solution for a roadway where students are vulnerable to vehicles sliding from the road onto the sidewalk.
The roadway is locally referred to as St. Mark's Hill.
Project Description:
The roadway in question has a high volume of pedestrian traffic, particularly students, from 7:45-9am and 3:30-5pm and has a history of vehicle accidents where cars then slide and mount the sidewalk, hitting the railing. Your goal is to design a solution that addresses this problem and keeps pedestrians safe.
What are Complete Streets?
Complete streets is a transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed, operated and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access all users, regardless of age, ability, income, race, ethnicity, or mode of travel.
Learn more at Complete Streets Canada >
Project Considerations
SNOW & RAIN
The roadway is a hill with south-west exposure. The lack of sun exposure means that any combination of snow and rain can make the road slippery and difficult to navigate. Your design should take into account the impact of these weather conditions on road safety and maintenance.
ACCESSIBILITY
How can the Saint Mark's hill become fully inclusive to meet the needs of all users, including those with disabilities? Check out the Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines and consider what changes need to be made to the hill to ensure it is accessible and meets the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
INDIGENOUS HERITAGE
To the south of the site, Thunderbird Mound is registered with the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture industries and is home to many ancient deciduous trees, including large red oaks, white oaks, beeches, black ashes, and one large yellow birch, whose broad root systems help hold the slope in place.
SNOW ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION
The ravine and river system surrounding the roadway are important ecological areas that should be preserved. Your design should take this into account and minimize any negative impact on the environment.
SCHOOL ACCESS
3 out of 4 local schools for the residents of Warren Park in the Humber Valley require students to walk up this hill to and from school daily. The 4th school only services students up to grade 6, after which students continue at Humbercrest PS, requiring all walking students to walk up St. Mark's Hill.
AGING IN PLACE
Many seniors choose to age in place in Warren Park. Walkability, access to transit, and transportation services on St. Mark's Hill is critical to their wellbeing and the ability for caregivers and emergency services to have reliable access to those who need it.
RECREATION
Local residents use the roadway for exercise along side visitors from communities near and far. Well it is frequented by runners far and wide, it is best known in the cycling community, being listed amongst Toronto's top cycling hills in the city. Large groups of cyclists regularly make use of it.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
St. Mark's Hill is not currently used by a TTC route. Winter weather regularly causes the public transit in Warren Park to be cancelled or delayed due to snow clearing and salting delays, as well managing the location of ploughed snow. Safe and reliable transit service is needed in this community.
ANIMAL CROSSINGS
The roadway is also located near a ravine and river system, which means it is a necessary point for animal crossings. Your design should consider the need to safely accommodate the movement of animals across the roadway.
POPULATION GROWTH
There are new housing developments in the area, which are expected to lead to an increase in population and potentially more traffic on the roadway. Your design should consider the potential impact of this growth on road safety.
2. SUBMISSIONS
Elementary Students
Projects must be submitted electronically by FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST AT NOON EST. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Entries shall be submitted as a single 8.5x11" pages. Registrants will receive a Project Package on Feb. 15th via email where submission details will be provided.
Elementary students are required to submit:
a creative interpretation or drawing of their Complete Streets solution to the hill;
Older students may wish to include a written description and references to existing urban solutions that inspired their project. Younger students are invited to find creative ways to express their plan;
Their project name, student name, name of primary contact and their contact information.
Elementary students are invited to submit as individuals or as a classroom.
Submission Criteria
Effectiveness
Does the design effectively address the problem of vehicles sliding off the road and onto the sidewalk? Does it consider the impact of snow and rain, animal crossings, population growth, and ecological preservation in a design that responds to the site?
Creativity
Does the design demonstrate creativity and originality in finding a solution to the problem?
Feasibility
Is the design realistic and feasible to implement in the given context?
Presentation
Is the design clearly and effectively presented, with clear drawings or visual aids as required for your student category?
Winning project and Top 10 featured projects will be announced by email and at a closing event April 8th, 2023. Details to follow.
High School Students
Projects must be submitted electronically by FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST AT NOON EST. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
This call for submissions is open to all high school students. You may apply as an individual or team. Applicants are limited to one (1) proposal either individually or as part of a team. Applicants must reside in Ontario.
Entries shall be submitted as two (2) 8.5x11" pages. Registrants will receive a Project Package on Feb. 15th via email where submission details will be provided.
Each entry should contain the following documents (in English):
Team Information (PDF):
One (1) page, 8.5” x 11” portrait;
- Name of proposed project;
- Individual or team members’ name;
- Name of primary contact and their contact information;
- A maximum 250-word description of the individual or team
- A maximum 250-word description of the project
Design Proposal Information (PDF):
One (1) page, 8.5” x 11” landscape;
- Images showing the overall Complete Streets design;
- List of proposed materials and;
- a visual or written description of their use in installation/construction;
- References to existing related and relevant urban planning projects used to inform your project including project name, location (google map pin link), and thumbnail image.
Submission Criteria
Effectiveness
Does the design effectively address the problem of vehicles sliding off the road and onto the sidewalk? Does it consider the impact of snow and rain, animal crossings, population growth, and ecological preservation of a design that responds to the site?
Creativity
Does the design demonstrate creativity and originality in finding a solution to the problem?
Feasibility
Is the design realistic and feasible to implement in the given context? Does it show awareness of installation that considers City of Toronto's Bylaws and safety standards? Does it demonstrates the ability to reference existing related and relevant projects?
Presentation
Is the design clearly and effectively presented, with clear drawings or visual aids as required for your student category?
Winning project and Top 10 featured projects will be announced by email and at a closing event April 8th, 2023. Details to follow.
Post Secondary Students
Projects must be submitted electronically by FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST AT NOON EST. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
This call for submissions is open to all collage or university level urban planning, engineering students, and other related disciplines. You may apply as an individual or team. Applicants are limited to one (1) proposal either individually or as part of a team. Applicants must reside in Ontario.
Entries shall be submitted as two separate PDF files (Individual/Team Information; Design Proposal Information) not exceeding 10MB each. Registrants will receive a Project Package on Feb. 15th via email where submission details will be provided.
Each entry should contain the following documents (in English):
Team Information (PDF):
One (1) page, 8.5” x 11” portrait;
- Name of proposed project;
- Individual or team members’ name;
- Name of primary contact and their contact information;
- A maximum 250-word description of the individual or team
*Team information is withheld from the jury until the final selection.
Design Proposal Information (PDF):
Two (2) page maximum, 11” x 17” landscape;
- Name of proposed project;
- Project Summary (Max. 250 words) - Description of the overall solution as it relates to Complete Streets and the project considerations;
- 3D renderings / images showing the overall design;
- List of proposed materials and;
- a visual or written description of their use in installation/construction;
- References to related and relevant urban planning projects used to inform your project including project name, location (google map pin link), and thumbnail image;
- Images and drawings should be at 300 DPI resolution
Submission Criteria
Effectiveness
Does the design effectively address the problem of vehicles sliding off the road and onto the sidewalk? Does it consider the impact of snow and rain, animal crossings, population growth, and ecological preservation with originality and clarity of the design that responds to the site.
Creativity
Does the design demonstrate creativity and originality in finding a solution to the problem?
Feasibility
Is the design realistic and feasible to implement in the given context? Demonstrates knowledge of successful existing and relevant urban solutions? Does it consider details of installation that abide to City of Toronto's Bylaws and safety standards?
Presentation
Is the design clearly and effectively presented, with clear drawings or visual aids as required for your student category?
Winning project and Top 10 featured projects will be announced by email and at a closing event April 8th, 2023. Details to follow.
3. EVALUATION
Meet our Jury
Carolyn Fearman
Associate Architect, SnV Architects & Planners Inc.
Associate Architect, SnV Architects & Planners Inc.
Since 2008, she has been working in the architecture and urban design fields following her vision to create robust and dynamic design at all scales, which serve to enhance the urban environment.
Alex Brogantz
Founder/CEO, EveryUrban
Founder/CEO, EveryUrban
Alex Brogantz was born for the real estate industry; Raised in an engineering family and attaining a BSc in Engineering then going on to build his place in the industry for over 15 years locally and internationally.
Feedback + Awards
All student submissions will be reviewed by our jury. Top high school and post secondary student projects will be awarded in both the individual and team categories.
Elementary Students
All submissions will receive feedback from our jury with potential next steps should they want to develop their project further and submit it to the next phase of the challenge. Our goal is to help fuel their creative and engineering journey!
High School Students
All submissions will receive feedback from our jury with potential next steps should they want to develop their project further and submit it to the next phase of the challenge.
Notable projects will be awareded.
Post Secondary Students
All submissions will receive feedback from our jury with potential next steps should they want to develop their project further and submit it to the next phase of the challenge.
Notable projects will be awarded.
4. EXHIBITION + PRESENTATIONS
PROJECT GALLERY
All submission will be on display for visitors to see. Visitors are encouraged to discuss the projects with our judges, students and each other.
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Students of all levels who successfully submit a complete project will be invited to present their project. Registration will be sent via email after March. 31st.
5. STUDENT + CLASSROOM RESOURCES
Site and Surrounding Community: maps and photos
Lower + Upper Elementary Resources: books, videos, lessons, visual guides
High School Resources: books, videos, lessons, visual guides
6. STUDENT WORKSHOPS
Between Feb. 15th and March 31st we will be hosting various opportunities for students and schools to work on their projects. Additional opportunities will be added as they become available.
Sun. Feb. 26th @ Lambton House 2:30-4:30 - Open Work Session
Come work on your projects, have questions answered, and collaborate with other students at this open work session. Students will have access to Urban Planning Mentors who will be present to answer questions, provide guidance and facilitate collaboration.
Feb. 20th-Mar. 24th 1/2 Day Complete Streets Workshop - Elementary Classes, West End Toronto Only
Between February 20th and March 24th we are offering 1/2 day Complete Streets workshops to participating West End Toronto elementary classrooms.
Workshop includes a virtual or in-person (if possible) site walk followed by a Complete Streets lesson and loose parts building. The workshop will conclude with translating design ideas to paper, leaving students with the opportunity to submit their project at that time, or continue to work on it until March 31st.
Mar. 1st - Mar. 24th Self-Guided Complete Streets Workshop - Open to all
On March 1st we will email participants video resources for registrants to run their own 1/2 day Complete Streets Workshop. Resources will include a video tour of the hill, video explanation of the Complete Streets approach, and a suggested loose parts building exercise.
MEET OUR STUDENT PARTICIPANTS:
TEAM SASKIN
Our team asked "Why have you joined the challenge?"
Audry (7) - "Becuase we want all of our community, our neighbours, our animals, and our families to be safe when crossing the road and walking up and down the hill".
Team Saskin will be joining along side students from OCAD, U of T, and various Toronto schools.
Design challenge brought to you by St. Mark's Hill Safety, the team behind WINTER(safety)FEST 2023.
On Jan. 29th 2023, our community gathered to rally for increased road safety measures on St. Mark's Hill from our local government in time for Ontario Active School's Winter Walk To School Day on Feb. 1st.