Streetscapes + Active Transportation
The Quarters Downtown Streetscape, Phase 1
The Quarters Downtown Streetscape, better known as The Armature (96 Street), is the backbone of The Quarters Downtown neighbourhood. The project created the first City-led “green-street”, providing extensive Low-Impact Development infrastructure, and a pedestrian-oriented streetscape to support the future build-out for the heart of The Quarters Downtown.
The Armature received a Landscape Architecture Award of Merit at the 2018 Prairie Design Awards.
This project included design development, detailed design, and construction administration. A concept plan was done by a previous consultant, which was used to guide the ultimate design and moved forward to further stages. There were some existing developments along the corridor, however, many of the parcels were empty and the utility and streetscape development needed to allow for future infill. The design also needed to account for the imminent construction of the Valley Line LRT, which crossed The Armature on 102 Avenue. These challenges, along with the complexities of designing the city’s first low-impact development corridor with structural soil cells, integrating an irrigation system that would eventually use water captured by a future park space, and the need to accelerate the project design by one year to meet the opening date of the Hilton hotel, made this project an exciting and educational experience. Shanna was extensively involved throughout the project, providing creative support, detailed design, and discipline coordination, and construction administration.
Beaumont 50th Street Streetscape
Beaumont is a long-standing bedroom community directly south of Edmonton’s southeast neighbourhoods. 50th Street is the primary truck route through town, and contains a mix of residential housing, commercial uses, and town services. As 50th Street is also one of the Main Streets in downtown Beaumont, the Town desired a streetscape improvement plan to draw businesses and residents to the core.
This project included all phases from concept to construction administration. This project was particularly challenging due to the use as a primary commuter route as well as the existing overhead power lines along the corridor. Shanna provided this project with a high level of expertise, providing design input, leading project and discipline coordination, and executing contract and construction administration. The results of this design gave a new look to Beaumont. The overhead powerlines were relocated allowing for the replacement of the struggling street trees with new trees in structural soil cells, and the new streetscape and entry features give a sense of uniqueness and welcome to the downtown.
Creative Problem Solving:
Existing overhead power lines on 50th Street posed constraints for redesigning and enhancing the streetscape. During a site visit, Shanna noted that there were also poles in the alley behind the businesses and identified the possibility to relocate the power to the alley poles. This solution was found to be viable and gave the streetscape new possibilities.
Grande Prairie Downtown Rehabilitation
The Downtown Rehabilitation project’s mandate is to create a modern, revitalized downtown, through infrastructure upgrades and streetscape improvements. The project focuses on 101 Avenue from 100 Street to 102 Street, and 101 Street from 99 Avenue to 102 Avenue. The city was keen on creating a “festival street” on 101 Avenue, which consisted of low profile curbs, power supply, custom seating walls with lighting, and irrigation coordination.
This project included master planning, concept design to detailed design, and construction administration. Monthly visits to Grande Prairie were key to providing updates to city council as well as quality public engagement. There were many significant challenges on this project, including coordination with landowners, client management, and cross-office and sub-consultant coordination. This project also involved inviting the City of Grande Prairie maintenance team to meeting with the City of Edmonton to discuss the ways to address maintenance on paving stone roadways. Shanna was key in providing design solutions, client management, public engagement, and project and construction coordination.
*Photo Credit: Jeff Schurek
105 (Columbia) Avenue Streetscape
105 Avenue, just outside of Downtown Edmonton, is a key corridor in the revitalization of the North Edge of Downtown. Historically known as Columbia Avenue, 105 Avenue demonstrates the dichotomy of the desire for urban living and existing industrial uses. Improvements to the corridor will enhance the aesthetics and accessibility of the public realm, with the aspirations to attract mixed-use development. 105 Avenue also plays a key connectivity role to Edmonton’s bike network, linking Ice District to the multi-use trail at 119 Street.
The scope of this project was to complete concept and preliminary design. These phases spanned 10 blocks from 119 Street to 109 Street and included site inventory and analysis, master planning, conceptual design, presentation drawings, and preliminary design tasks, including detailed paving design, and coordinating with the furniture manufacturer to create custom seating. Some particular project challenges included the necessity to address the needs of both light industrial uses as well as residential frontages along this evolving corridor. Shanna was responsible for project and client coordination, concept development, and detailed design, including collaboration with multiple disciplines on the consulting side and with City departments.
Imagine Jasper Avenue
Jasper Avenue is one of Edmonton’s original Main Streets. With the implementation of the Main Streets Guidelines, and the ongoing transformation in Downtown Edmonton, the City identified Jasper Avenue as an area of importance to begin to evolve and enhance Edmonton’s Main Streets. Imagine Jasper Avenue undertook an extensive background analysis and public consultation process, in order to expertly address the varying characters and communities along the streetscape.
Shanna played a vital role in this project by providing design expertise, developing graphics and public engagement materials, team coordination, and public engagement support.
Rice Howard Way Concept Development
Rice Howard Way is one of Downtown Edmonton’s most active and vital pedestrian areas. With the recent upgrades to the Enbridge Centre public realm, the City expressed desire to update the remainder of the streetscape.
This project included a feasibility study and conceptual design for the remainder of Rice Howard Way. Shanna was an integral part of the team, providing concept design development, graphic design, and coordination to produce a Concept Design Report for the purpose of gaining capital funding.
Downtown Streetscape Typology and Design Manual
The Downtown Streetscape Typology and Manual provides a high-level design strategy for the streets of Downtown and The Quarters Downtown, and identifies a suite of streetscape elements. This manual will create a framework to approach future public and private development, and streetscape improvements.
This project included reviewing the existing conditions of all street right-of-ways in Downtown and The Quarters Downtown and developing an overall street typology to direct future development. Shanna was a key member of the design team and provided support in sub-consultant coordination, developing design solutions, creating project graphics, and providing stakeholder and client communication and engagement.
83 Avenue / 102 Avenue Major Bike Routes
The 83 Avenue and 102 Avenue Major Bike Routes are high-quality facilities that make cycling for all ages and levels of cycling abilities. They were the City of Edmonton’s first undertaking of AAA facilities that would eventually help to expand to bicycle grids on both the north and south sides of the river.
The projects included master planning and feasibility studies as well as concept design. Because these projects were the first of their kind, extensive public and stakeholder consultation was included. Numerous corridors were investigated and public consultation helped to confirm the routes on 83 Avenue and 102 Avenue. Conceptual design plans were created for the routes and used to continue the project into design and implementation. Shanna was a key member of the team, communicating with the City project team, providing conceptual design input, and producing graphic plans for engagement events and final deliverables.
Victoria Bike Lanes - Vancouver Street
Vancouver Street is a 5km route that is a key component of the City of Victoria’s All Ages and Abilities (AAA) bikeways. This route stretches from the north city boundary to the south waterfront trail connection, providing an important cross-city connection and intersection with numerous east/west routes.
This project included preliminary and detailed design, as well as low impact development design and construction administration support. Shanna was involved in developing design solutions for the project, including detailed grading, public realm design, construction detailing, and responding to contractor RFIs during construction.
Victoria Bike Lanes - Richardson Street
These routes are key connections in the City of Victoria’s All Ages and Abilities (AAA) bikeways. Comprising of a total of 7.1km, these routes provide missing connections between existing bike routes, strengthening the City’s network and providing safe places for people of all ages to bike.
This project included preliminary and detailed design, as well as low impact development design and construction administration support. Shanna was involved in developing design solutions for the project, including detailed grading, public realm design, construction detailing, and responding to contractor RFIs during construction.
103 Avenue Streetscape
The 103 Avenue corridor is a short but busy stretch of road in downtown Edmonton. Connecting Edmonton Tower to City Hall, this one-block road is heavily used by pedestrians moving between the two civic locations, elderly residents living in the retirement home on the avenue, and commuters accessing one of the many parking garages accessed off the road.
The vision for this project is to create a more comfortable walking experience, improving accessibility for older adults and children, and maintaining vehicle access to commuter parking. The goal is to develop a shared space that will slow down vehicle traffic and allow people to move freely within the space through the creation of a comfortable and safe atmosphere for residents, business customers, and visitors including those with mobility or vision disabilities. Shanna provided design services to the project team in graphic design, grading and low impact development design from concept design through to detailed design. She also provided construction administration support through review of shop drawings.
Sundre Streetscape Improvements
Sundre is a rural community in southwestern Alberta. Like many small towns, the main commercial street is also a major highway that bisects the town. The highway is currently a single through lane in either direction with parking lanes that are no longer used and temporary roundabouts that are to be made permanent. The highway is also a major truck route that services oversized vehicles. The town was interested in investigating a complete streets approach to the main street to provide a more comfortable environment for people walking.
This project included a feasibility study to provide a more attractive and comfortable pedestrian environment in downtown Sundre. This project was particularly challenging due to the need to accommodate oversized vehicles and the hesitancy to change the curb line and existing drainage patterns of the road, though it was overbuilt. Two options were provided to the client, along with concept level cost estimates, one with the option to keep the existing curb and drainage patterns, and one with new curb lines and options to address stormwater management through low impact development. Shanna provided project management and led the design for this study.
University of Alberta North Campus Cycle Routes Conceptual Planning
The University engaged a small team of landscape architects and transportation specialists to review the feasibility of providing cycle routes and enhanced open spaces through its North Campus.
Shanna was a key part of a team of four who completed a study and recommendations reports addressing the existing infrastructure, gaps, key opportunities, and provided high-level conceptual plans for the routes.