PRE FORUM - WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23 2024 Open to all!
DAY 1 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 24th 2024
VENUE
Pier 21 (1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7)
8:00 – 9:00 am
Registration & Refreshments
9:00 – 9:30 am
T1 Welcome and Opening Session
9:30– 11:00 am
Session Sponsored by
T2 Panel Discussion - Halifax Evolution: Divergence at its core
Halifax/Kjipuktuk has been a changing urban place. Can its divergence be tied to forward thinking urbanism policy? The panel discussion will walk the audience through the early Form Based Code Planning with Halifax By Design, the transition to Centre Plan Package A, then Package B and the evolving nature of the plan as it attempts to address Population Growth, both Provincial and Federal Policy...and ultimately leading to a changed Municipality and downtown.
11:00 – 11:15 am
Refreshment Break
11:15 – 12:30 pm
T3 Panel Discussion - The Aesthetics and Science of Net Zero Development
The design of density in Canada will change as jurisdictions across the country begin to adopt step codes to get to Net Zero Ready construction. The panel will discuss the challenges in applying the Net Zero framework with popular design details and materials, with a focus on what the future of resiliency looks like and what impact that may have on the look and feel of our cities.
1:30 -2:45 pm
T5 Panel Discussion - Urban Design for Sea Level Rise
Sea-level rise is prompting a major recalibration of Canadian coastal cities. This manifests across various scales of intervention; from regional growth planning, to urban design, to public space design. Showcasing recent, award-winning research and projects, our panelists will make the case that foresight, adaptation, and a good dose of creativity are required if we are to transition to a more climate-resilient urbanism.
2:45 – 5:00 pm
T6 Walking Tours
T6-1 Halifax Waterfront
Walking tour will depart from Pier 21 at 3:15pm ADT and conclude at 4:45pm ADT at Purdy’s Wharf.
The waterfront has always been the historical core of commercial and naval Halifax: a bustling working harbour in a growing city. The post-WWI downturn in traditional waterfront activity was followed by containerized shipping growth, which led to property deterioration as businesses moved elsewhere in the harbour. Over this same period, Halifax declined as a fishing port. In 1960, a Harbourfront Highway proposal was replaced by a community that was looking for a more progressive strategy for their waterfront.
Since 1976, the stewards of the waterfront have worked with partners on a number of key development projects, including the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel and the award-winning Bishop’s Landing in Halifax. The current portfolio includes the landmark Queen’s Marque development and the newly opened Cunard Block on the boardwalk.
This tour will take folks from the south to the north of the waterfront and highlight the social, commercial, and marine infrastructure that makes the waterfront an incredibly special place.
T6-2 Linking the Water to the Land
Walking tour will depart from Pier 21 at 3:15pm ADT and conclude at 4:45pm ADT at the Central Library.
While Halifax has benefited from the work of Build NS in creating the best, most accessible, and lively waterfront in Canada the efforts to build corollary activity through public & private spaces through the steep inclines leading to the Halifax Citadel has proved more challenging. The support for private redevelopment of sites throughout the downtown over the past 20 years has led to Halifax having the fastest growing residential Downtown in the country. This walking tour will explore how developments have taken advantage of North-South respites and public spaces to enhance the experience of all visitors to Downtown, whether here for a visit or locally resident in the region. Exploring parks, streetscaping projects, privately owned open spaces, and institutional settings the tour will show how walkable, beautiful, and accessible communities can be built in any environment.
T6-3 Learning from our Mistake (The Cogswell District)
Walking tour will depart from the Corner of Lower Water Street & Duke Street at 3:15pm ADT and conclude at 4:30pm ADT at the corner of Gottingen Street and Cogswell Street.
The Cogswell Interchange, a piece of road infrastructure in downtown Halifax, was originally constructed as part of the Harbour Drive Transportation Plan. However, the plan was abruptly halted in 1971, leaving the interchange as a remnant of an incomplete expressway.
The Cogswell District project is a multi-year, multi-phase initiative aimed at correcting this and reconnecting downtown Halifax with the north end and waterfront, fostering a stronger and more inclusive network of communities. The project will transform 16 acres of road infrastructure into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood, expanding the northern entrance to downtown and reuniting areas previously divided by the interchange. The reinstatement of the urban street grid will create development blocks for new residential and commercial spaces, eventually housing 2,500 people. The area will also feature dedicated cycling lanes, multi-use trails, new parks, open spaces, a redesigned transit hub, and a central urban square, transforming the traffic-heavy site into a pedestrian-friendly community where people can live, work, and relax.
Currently, 70% of the project is complete, with most of the major interchange structures removed, and the layout of the new road network becoming visible. This walking tour will explore the significant infrastructure changes and the new connections being formed with surrounding communities.
T6-4 North End Halifax – From Boom to Bust to Boom Again
Walking Tour will depart from Halifax City Hall at 1841 Argyle St. in Halifax at 3:15 pm ADT and conclude at 5:00 pm ADT at the corner of Gottingen Street and Rainie Drive.
(Note that this walking tour will involve more than 6 kms of walking, not including travel to and from start and finishing spots)
Halifax as one of Canada’s oldest cities has seen significant changes as it has developed from the original port and military locale to a bustling City. Similarly, North End Halifax has seen a rapid change. This tour will take CanU Forum attendees through the historic and changing North End. The tour will briefly touch on the Cogswell Redevelopment (for a detailed tour, please choose the other tour), then explore Gottingen and Brunswick Streets, discussing the changing fortunes of each street, architecture, planning and urban design elements, the displacement of existing communities, concerns of current African Nova Scotian (ANS) communities. The tour will move by Uniacke Square and speak about the association with Africville and the displacement of ANS residents. Moving north, the tour will discuss infill developments occurring, historic redevelopments and the Hydrostone Market and Hydrostone Community that sprung up following the Halifax Explosion in 1917. A quick visit to Fort Needham Park to visit the memorial to the Halifax Explosion and to see the redevelopment of the Park. Moving west, the tour will continue through Hydrostone residential community, exploring some clever infill development with the Stanley Street Homes, before moving south on Agricola Street and towards the future Uptown Community and the discussion about redevelopment of Strawberry Hill, the Halifax Forum and areas along Kempt Road. The Midtown North Development will be explored and then Agricola Street as a changing mixed use commercial and residential street will be toured, before finally wrapping up at the Municipally led Downtown Gateway redevelopment, where public land is being re-examined for its future potential.
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Down Time
6:00 -8:30 pm
Session Sponsored by
T7 Pecha Kucha - Canadian Urbanism Coast to Coast (C2C) and Night at the Museum
A presentation of the latest examples of good urban design from Coast to Coast, presented in Pecha Kucha style. Six leading urbanists will present best practices and award-winning projects from BC, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Join us for this perennial favorite!
Following the C2C presentation join us for a private tour of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 to learn of the ongoing story of immigration to Canada.
DAY 2 - FRIDAY OCTOBER 25th 2024
VENUE
Morning Sessions:
Pier 21 (1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7)
Evening Session:
Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dalhousie University
Ralph M. Medjuck Building, basement level, Lecture hall
(5410 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS B3J 1B6)
Campus Code(X), Building Code(J301) Room number(B015)
8:00 – 9:00 am
Registration & Refreshments
9:00 – 10:15 am
Session Sponsored by
T8 Panel Discussion – Partnerships for Better Design
The complexities inherent to the growth of our cities create significant challenges and require a wide range of knowledge and resources. In this conversation, we will examine how meaningful partnerships help create beautiful and resilient developments. The session will explore partnership’s strengths and lessons learned in a series of case studies as we seek to continue to manage growth and build communities in the face of climate change, dwindling budgets and exponential growth.
10:15 – 10:30am
Refreshment Break
10:30 – 11:45 am
Session Sponsored by
T9 Panel Discussion – Mid Size Cities: Joys and Pains of Growing Big
Cities across the country are changing faster than they ever have before, and this is especially true of the country’s mid-sized cities. More people working remotely, changing demographics, housing affordability, and other factors have led to many citizens leaving large urban centres and moving to smaller and mid-size cities.
Mid-sized cities are seeking to maximize the potential upside of a new era of growth, such as greater diversity, new investment, creative entrepreneurialism, and increased demand that could support local businesses and enable new public services such as enhanced public transit.
This panel session will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s mid-sized cities, and how they are responding to this critical moment. The panel will feature speakers from across the country including municipal planners and urban designers, developers, and civic leaders, who will share their thoughts and perspectives on what lies ahead, and how mid-sized cities should be prepared to respond.
11:45 -1:00 pm
Lunch Break
1:00 – 3:30 pm
T10 Walking Tours
T10-1 Wanderers Grounds
This Walking Tour will depart from Pier 21 Builder Plaza at 1:00pm ADT (start tour at the Halifax Lawn Bowls parking lot on Sackville St) and conclude at 2:45pm ADT at Power House Building (corner of Bell Rd & Sackville St).
Join us as we take a stroll through, in and around the “Wanderers Block”. This area represents an integral part of the City’s public space network situated at the confluence of Halifax Commons, Museum of Natural History, Victoria Public Gardens, and the historic Citadel. The Wanderers Block has a rich history dating back to the 1880s and a truly unique collection of tenants that include the Wanderers FC Soccer, Halifax Lancers Equestrian, Halifax Lawn Bowls, HRM Horticulture and HRM Parks Depot. Plans are currently underway to develop a Functional Plan for the future of the Wanderers Block that includes accommodating expansion, retention and attraction of tenants, most prominent of which is a potential new 8,000 seat permanent downtown stadium for Halifax Wanderers FC.
The Wanderers Block is unlike any other public/community use venue in North America, where many of the uses similar to those assembled over many years on the Wanderers Grounds are typically found scattered or on the outskirts of an urban environment with more prominent parking needs. However, in Halifax, the Wanderers Grounds are intertwined as part of the compact downtown urban fabric. Yet, as publicly owned lands they require ongoing consideration for how the public realm and rich history is protected and enhanced for the tenants, as well as those who use the space as part of the city’s mobility network and leisure space.
T10-2 Building neighbourhoods that invite the participation & creativity of everyone
This Walking Tour will depart from the Corner of Gottingen Street & Cogswell Street at 1:30pm ADT and conclude at 3:30pm ADT at the same corner.
Halifax’s North End is a unique and vibrant community, home to a diverse mix of people with different languages, cultures, talents, and interests. As the area undergoes significant transformation with new development replacing long-vacant lots and older buildings, the team at Every One Every Day Kjipuktuk is collaborating with local residents to create a new model of neighborhood participation. This initiative aims to reshape the way we live, learn, and connect with one another on a daily basis.
This walking tour will introduce you to their space and showcase the outcomes of various community projects, where residents have come together to create meaningful contributions. They envision a neighborhood where people gather to cook, play, share, learn, bake, craft, repair, and chat. The tour highlights how cultural knowledge and traditions have been exchanged, along with hands-on activities like making, building, and mending, all of which help the community stay strong amidst the changes happening around them.
T10-3 Breathing New Life Into Forgotten Treasures – Redevelopment by Sidewalk RED in Downtown Halifax and Downtown Dartmouth
This Walking Tour will begin at the Agency Art Lofts Building at 1660 Hollis St. in Halifax at 1:30 pm ADT and conclude at 3:30 pm ADT at the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal.
The sidewalk is where every development’s true value is tested, because it’s where we interact and connect with our community, tenants, and friends. Sidewalk RED is a creative and innovative real estate development firm based in Halifax, with a deeply ingrained commitment to rethinking the way buildings are renovated and designed throughout downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. We believe that each individual development in the streetscape has a role to play in shaping and fostering a neighbourhood’s long-term energy and appeal. As one of Halifax’s leading adaptive reuse developers, we are currently converting a downtown Halifax office tower into over 141 units of residential housing, while drastically improving its energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint. We helped save one of Canada’s top ten most at-risk historical buildings from the wrecking ball and have been instrumental in the revitalization of downtown Dartmouth, carefully forging a vibrant community bursting with culture and an exciting culinary and beverage scene. Dartmouth is now a sought-after neighbourhood, often described as “New Brooklyn”. And our goal is equally lofty with every development project we take on
The tour will explore some of the important redevelopment projects that Elliot and Joe have undertaken in Halifax and Dartmouth and they can answer questions about the details of complexity of each development as the sites are toured. Projects - Sidewalk Real Estate Development (sidewalkred.ca)
3:30 - 5:30pm
Down Time
5:30 -6:30 pm
Session Sponsored by
T11 – Convergence/Divergence: A conversation with Mallory Baches
* Venue: Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dalhousie UniversityRalph M. Medjuck Building, basement level, Lecture hall (5410 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS B3J 1B6)
While key governmental and procedural frameworks condition and shape how urbanism is practiced both in the US and Canada, key matters of resiliency, housing, mobility and health consume both countries.
Where do we converge, where do we diverge? And what can we learn from this ebb and flow?
Join us for a candid conversation with Mallory Baches, President of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) as interviewed by Ute Maya-Giambattista, President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism (CANU) on the current state and future trends of urbanism.
DAY 3 - SATURDAY OCTOBER 26th 2024
VENUE
Pier 21 Departure Point (1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7)
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
T12 Bus Tour - Peggy’s Cove and surroundings
The community of Peggy’s Cove embarked on a bold new vision for its future, which involved a complex, multi-faceted project with numerous interconnected elements. A draft Master Plan was created to guide this initiative, and through further community engagement, technical studies, and design refinements, several aspects of the plan were adjusted—some of them significantly. The plan is now being implemented, with many key physical enhancements already completed.
These major improvements have opened up access to the iconic lighthouse and unique landscape by creating elevated, protected areas that welcome a wider and more diverse group of visitors. Notable contributions from Omar Ghandi Architects, Harbourside Engineering, Englobe, Trim Landscaping, EDM Planning Services, Thompson Conn Limited, Gemtech Consulting Engineers & Scientists, Tate Engineering, Boreas Heritage, Greytop Construction, and CBCL Engineering have gained international recognition for their thoughtful approach to transforming a high-traffic tourist destination.
Seating has been added to accommodate those who move at a different pace or wish to take in the stunning views at length. Green spaces have also been expanded, with planters and landscaped areas featuring native plant species that support the local ecosystem and educate visitors about the unique coastal barrens' biosphere.
This tour will highlight the stunning beauty of the Atlantic Ocean at Peggy’s Cove, with special attention to the award-winning design interventions that have garnered the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize, a Gold rating from the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, and numerous other accolades in design and engineering.