University of Toronto competition brings new perspectives to the Tay Basin project
PERTH — Perth residents got a glimpse of what the Tay Basin could become and, for a couple of hours inside the Crystal Palace, the future felt unusually tangible.
More than 60 people filtered through the April 10 public exhibition, studying boards, chatting in small clusters and weighing bold ideas for the downtown parking lot slated for a facelift next year. Councillors, residents and local representatives were among those in attendance, curious to see how the Tay Basin could be reimagined.
The evening marked the public unveiling of a student design competition led by the University of Toronto’s architecture and landscape programs, with local architect Adam Mackenzie Smith acting as the bridge between campus and community.
“The Tay Basin is at the heart of our community, and this collaboration with the University of Toronto invites new perspectives on how it can continue to evolve,” said Cathy McNally, director of community services and one of the jurors.
Students were tasked with reimagining the site as a flexible public square, one that still accommodates parking and traffic while supporting festivals, markets, tourism and day to day pedestrian use. The challenge came with real-world constraints, including maintaining at least 64 parking spaces, ensuring accessibility and integrating existing landmarks such as the Crystal Palace and Rideau Trail.
“The designs were creative and very imaginative, reflecting their academic studies. Students told me they found the experience fun and stimulating,” said Coun. Gary Waterfield, one of the local jurors.
The idea for the competition grew out of practical concerns, Mackenzie Smith said. With future work already anticipated at the site, including infrastructure upgrades and the planned restoration of the Red House, he saw an opportunity to think bigger.
“If things are going to change, it’s a chance to explore opportunities and possibilities in a more creative way,” he said.
What followed was the creation of a competition tailored not just to Perth, but to students learning how to navigate real design processes. While 57 teams initially registered, 12 submissions made it to the final stage, a mix of course required and extracurricular work, including entries completed on top of demanding final-year studies.
A jury combining local voices and outside design experts ultimately selected a winner, but organizers stress the real value lies beyond rankings.
“This was an ideas competition and doesn’t mean the town will adopt them. However, the Basin parking lot is slated to be repaved next year, so we will consider some ideas in our planning,” McNally said, emphasizing that the goal was to spark conversation rather than lock in a plan.
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