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Clear Vistas: New Saskatchewan Development Engages Urban Planning Students for Designs
Clear Vistas: New Saskatchewan Development Engages Urban Planning Students for Designs
Published 01-09-09
Submitted by Clear Vistas
REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/09/09 -- The lights dim as the President of Clear Vistas, Ken Lagasse, prepares to announce the winners of the Clear Vistas Design Competition. Anxiously awaiting his words from the podium are the two finalists who have dedicated six months of intense research and design to one of Canada's most innovative
residential developments.
Six student teams from faculties of the Canadian Urban Planning Program submitted their Urban Planning masterpieces to a panel of judges, outlining their strategies applicable to the new community which will be developed outside of Regina, Saskatchewan, beginning in 2010.
Destined to become one of Saskatchewan's most compelling and environmentally-friendly communities, the submissions to the Design Competition contain a number of unique and innovative features. The eco-friendly designs include using recycled concrete and tire rubber for asphalt, solar-powered hot water heaters and street lighting to foster a green identity, and cellulose blanket (recycled newspaper) housing insulation to decrease energy consumption throughout the community.
The Design Competition Award Ceremony for such an innovative community drew the attendance of many dignitaries and public figures, including the President of the Association of Canadian Urban Planning Programs and the President of the Canadian Institute of Planners who performed as judges. With this type of attention, it is clear why there is so much excitement surrounding this development.
As Ken approaches the main stage, a silence falls upon the crowd, awaiting the winner of the $10,000 grand prize. Atop the podium, he describes the difficulty in selecting the recipient of the award. He speaks with delight, announcing that all expectations of the Design Competition were exceeded and the panel of judges could not clearly select a single winner. As a result, two of the teams would be taking home $10,000 each and the second place team would receive $5,000 for their excellent contributions to the competition.
With great applause, the representatives from the University of Waterloo and McGill University accept the First Place Award for their inspirational design proposals and the University of Calgary, with an excellent submission, takes hold of the Second Place Award.
Clear Vistas Management would like to sincerely thank all of those that participated in the Design Competition as their hard work will strongly influence the design and creation of this first-class community. Designs have already been dissected for use in the actual development plan as assisted by engineers from Stantec. For extensive details of the submissions of all participants, please visit www.clearvistas.ca.
Clear Vistas Community is a British Columbia Limited Partnership that, in collaboration with the existing communities in Saskatchewan, intends to develop its land acquisition into a planned eco-friendly residential community with a potential of 3500 residences over a staged 10-year development period.
