HTFC led this $3M renovation project to update and refresh a landmark urban courtyard in downtown Winnipeg, adding life, improving accessibility, and reducing the maintenance burden. A number of challenges had to be overcome, including unreliable underground structures records, extensive deep shade, building envelope and geotechnical issues, numerous level changes, vagrancy, and limited construction access.
Materials, forms and colours were carefully selected to preserve the courtyard’s classic Late Modern style. The planting design was developed with the Manitoba Museum’s botany curator as a native plant teaching tool. Small-scale water features punctuate the space and soften traffic noise. Because the courtyard is busiest on winter evenings, the project also included a snow management and winter-adapted lighting plan. In 2012 the project received an Accessible Design Award from the City of Winnipeg.