The Landmark Project wins Toronto Urban Design Award

September 11, 2025

The Landscape of Landmark Quality project has won an Award of Merit from the Toronto Urban Design Awards (TUDA) in the “Large Places and/or Neighbourhood Designs” category. Now in its 35th year, the awards program celebrates contributions to the beauty, functionality, and livability of Toronto.    

Led by KPMB with landscape design by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA), the Landmark Project is an ambitious revitalization and pedestrianization of the nearly 200-year-old St. George Campus core. By removing surface parking and reimagining the landscape, the Landmark Project has reclaimed the 17-acre site as a welcoming, green hub — for both the university and the city. 

The project includes one of Canada’s largest urban geothermal fields. Located below the central lawn of King’s College Circle, this system will reduce the university’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 metric tons — a major step towards achieving climate positivity.

As the TUDA jury commented, “The project skillfully balances a wide range of practical considerations—including servicing, accessibility, and the integration of a sophisticated geothermal exchange system—while simultaneously enriching the sensory and experiential dimensions of the campus landscape.”

Read more about the Landmark Project.