Rideau Canal Esplanade
Client
National Capital Commission (NCC)
Location
Ottawa
Completion
2011
Award
Ottawa Urban Design Award, Public Places and Civic Spaces - 2011 Award of Merit
A signature feature of Ottawa’s landscape, the Rideau Canal is a national icon and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site (2007). Requiring three levels of government approvals, the project included a gateway to the Canal, a major expansion at the Convention Centre, and a World Heritage designation.
Located between a heavily urbanized downtown core and the lengthy green corridor of the canal waterway, the Rideau Canal Esplanade is a contemporary reflection of a storied heritage, designed with details such as large limestone blocks aligned to the city grid to form comfortable sitting and movement spaces. Integral to the design were tree planting and preservation to buffer the contrasting spaces, soften the hard edge of the canal, and create comfortable, shaded pedestrian spaces in the summer months. Soil cell structures were used for the first time in one of Ottawa’s major urban spaces to provide adequate soil volumes for the poplar grove along Colonel By Drive. The preservation of the large existing elm trees was essential to the success of the space, and sensitive measures such as stone dust paving were implemented to allow for water infiltration and protection of the existing root systems.
In order to ensure continuity from the Convention Centre, the project was coordinated with the expansion to lower Colonel By Drive. This thorough coordination addressed safety concerns posed by a significant grade change down to the original site, while also maintaining historic forms and surrounding land uses.
The Rideau Canal Esplanade is a breakthrough project that demonstrates how thoughtful urban design can transform a precinct and create a strong sense of place. It is a planning, architectural, and landscape architectural collaboration that showcases the Rideau Canal and creates a unique and engaging space for visitors and local citizens alike.
