National Urban Design Awards - 2022 Recipient - Community Initiatives | 九州直播

九州直播

National Urban Design Awards - 2022 Recipient - Community Initiatives

Corner Commons
Toronto,
ON
Award Category: 
Community Initiatives

Lead:听Perkins&Will |听Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre
Completion:听September 2021听

Coordinated by the Jane/Finch Centre, Corner Commons is a temporary, free, and accessible public space. Installed for summer 2021, Corner Commons hosted a wide range of activities with local artists, resident leaders, grassroots groups, and various community organizations from the neighbourhood.

As part of Perkins&Will鈥檚 Social Purpose program, employees were given the chance to contribute to our communities in direct and personal ways. The members of the Toronto studio helped design, paint, and repurpose the corner of the Jane Finch Mall parking lot into a thriving community hub.

Project Credits

Perkins&Will
Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre

Jury Comment(s): 

鈥淭his project received strong recommendation for the level of community engagement, creativity and resilience it demonstrates. The history of the site, along with the project鈥檚 patterns, colours and various programs makes this an exemplary example of strong community engagement."

"The project highlights extensive community involvement. It showcases how a space is revitalized through varied programming. It depicts community involvement as seen in the construction and execution of the project. It involved an intensive conceptual process that considered the community鈥檚 feedback."

"An exceptional community-driven process is what makes this project stand out.听 It is clear that the community came together under the banner of this initiative. Because of this ownership in process and purpose, the result is a space for the community and by the community. With enough infrastructure to sponsor a wide diversity of programming, from community gardens to performance spaces to spaces for protestation, it is truly the hallmark of authentic public space.鈥

Jury members听

Click for full version: 
Aerial view of Corner Commons

PHOTO - Diego Zabala

Volunteers painting a section of Corner Commons

PHOTO - Clint, Langevin, Perkins&Will

Orange painted chairs with canopy

Photo Credit - Clara Stewart-Robertson, Jane/Finch Centre听

Person speaking on stage

PHOTO - David Meija Monico听

Group of youth performing

PHOTO - Flaunt It Movement, videographer @TRUCREATES听

Person sitting at Corner Commons

PHOTO - Jhanoi Walker听