Ukrainian Archives among urban design winners

The design for the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta on Jasper Avenue was one of 10 winners at the 2009 Edmonton Urban Design Awards Wednesday night.

The museum which is still awaiting federal funding will transforma former hotel on Jasper Avenue and 95th Street that dates from the turn of the 20th century.

HIP Architects and David Murray Architect received an award of merit for the design in the unbuilt category.

"The province and the City of Edmonton is committed heavily to this project," said Alan Partridge of HIP Architects. "We've already stabilized the building. We've invested a lot in the building already. We need to get this completed and now's the time to do it."

The slowdown in local home construction means there are plenty of skilled tradespeople available to work on the project, which Partridge said is an important piece of downtown revitalization.

Other winners included the design for the Quarters, a proposal to revitalize the rundown area of downtown east of 95th Street, Mill Creek Flex Homes, and the facade improvement for Myhre's Music on 118th Avenue.

The Urban Design Awards were launched in 2005, the same year Mayor Stephen Mandel declared "our tolerance for crap must be zero"regarding the quality of architectural design in Edmonton.

On Wednesday, Mandel said the awards are evidence of the improvement.

"As we can see, no more crap is being built and we sure appreciate that," Mandel said.

"A city is buildings and the kind of design ... really is the reflection of who we are. And if it's staid, if it's bland, if it's concrete and no creativity, then we become known as a not very creative group of people, and I think that's the farthest from the truth for our great city."

The winners were decided by a jury that included noted Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal.