"I would love to see a public square with a park, benches and trees; a peaceful place to gather and read books, and a great place for sight see-ers as well."
- comment from attendee at Canada Day celebration |
Design
JULY 2016
MOVING AHEAD Things have really moved forward with the choice of GSP Group as the architectural firm to design the redevelopment of Market Square. Once that decision was made, GSP has presented a reworked design and Council, as well as the public, have had an opportunity to provide feedback at an Open House held on Wednesday June 1, 2016 at City Hall. Approximately 60 people attended, in addition to five members of Council, five staff members, and three consultants from GSP. The Market Square Committee made a written submission before the feedback deadline of June 5, 2016. Our Committee suggested that the City hold off on the idea of a skating rink, extend the decorative pavers all the way to the south sidewalks and improve the curb bump outs that will help pedestrian movement and safety. We also asked the City to fast track at least a few of the planned media towers so the Sesquicentennial Committee’s digital media project could be installed in time for celebrations in July 2017. A revised conceptual design for Market Square and costing for Phase 1 was considered by Council on June 13 sitting as the Finance and Labour Relations Sub-Committee at which the following decisions were made:
FEBRUARY 2016
Momentum is HERE In late 2015, the City issued a request for Prequalification to shortlist architectural design firms interested in designing the redevelopment of Market Square. 20 responses were received and 3 shortlisted firms were invited to submit design proposals. Proposals were received on 17 February 2016. Click on each of the three links below to view the submissions. Designs from Janet Rosenberg & Studio, GSP Group and MMM Group will also be available for viewing at a drop-in Public Open House on 22 February from 4:30-6:30pm in the Stratford City Hall Auditorium, located at 1 Wellington Street. Design teams will be on site to answer questions and speak to their designs. Citizens can provide feedback by means of a Survey Form (click) Council expects to select a successful design in March 2016. JUNE 2015
Revitalization of Stratford's Historic Market Square: Integration of Design Considerations From Public Engagement Process (2003 - 2015 To read the Stratford Market Square Committee's recommended key principles that would comprise a framework for an RFP to be issued by the city of Stratford, click on this link. /uploads/5/0/2/6/50269747/market_square_design_princ_final.doc Document prepared by Stratford Market Square Committee member Dr. Laura E. Dent. Laura holds a Ph.D in planning from the University of Waterloo, and degrees in architecture and affordable housing from McGill University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her areas of research include suburban development and design as well as community attachment and sense of place. SEPTEMBER 2014 There was an international design competition held for Stratford's Market Square in 2006. After many rounds of consultation, in September 2014 the City of Stratford decided not to pursue this design and will soon commence a new round of public consultations. Plant Architect's winning design replaces the current asphalt surface with fresh paving brick and part of the Square is planted with large sycamore trees to provide shelter and shade. At the base of each tree there will be seating. On the east side of the Square (towards Downie Street) there are low steps for informal presentations or sitting. There is a crease running across the Square which collects rainwater and drops it into a below-ground cistern. The water is pumped up and and flows over a low wall on the west side of the Square (facing Wellington Street). On the south side (Market Place), there is space for overflow from sidewalk cafes and also for deliveries. A good portion of the Square remains open for many uses. To learn more about award-winning Plant Architect Inc., click here. 
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With the support of the Perth Community Futures and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
