Vaughan City Hall Recognized with World-Class International Architecture Award
Oct. 29, 2013
Vaughan City Hall has received the International Architecture Award for 2013 in recognition of its environmentally-responsible design and accessibility. The leading global award, from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, honours new architecture, interiors and urban planning.
“The City of Vaughan is very proud to be the recipient of this prestigious architectural award, one of the most recognized in the world,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “Our new City Hall truly is world-class and it reflects our commitment to innovation, service excellence and environmental stewardship. As the cornerstone of our growing community, it sets a tone for civic-minded and environmentally-responsible development and the standard for architectural design.”
This year the International Architecture Awards program received a record number of projects from architecture firms across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and the Americas. The awards were founded 10 years ago as a way to bring a global focus to new architectural developments that achieve a high standard of excellence in design and sustainability, and promote best practices in all types of building projects for the private and public sectors.
Vaughan City Hall was recognized for incorporating state-of-the-art technology with a whole-building approach to sustainability. Green elements have been incorporated throughout the building with a focus on energy conservation, including the extensive use of natural light, green roofs and reduced water usage. It showcases a whole-building approach to development, balancing the needs of the present while protecting the environment for the future.
Award-winning Canadian architectural firm KPMB Architects designed the multi-level 280,000-square-foot building to achieve a Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). City Hall officially opened in September 2011 and has received a number of awards including Governor General’s Medal (2012), the Award of Excellence from Ontario Association of Architects (2012), Vaughan Urban Design (2012) and Canadian Architect (2004).
About The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies are global non-profit education and research institutes. Their mission is to provide public education about the significance of architecture and design and how those disciplines can have a positive effect on the human environment.