November 17, 2010

BEN RAHN/A-FRAME

Rouge Bijou includes the first multi-unit buildings in the Downtown Markham, Ont. mixed-use development.

Quadrangle Architects wins urban intensification award for Downtown Markham project

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

TORONTO

Quadrangle Architects Ltd. has won an urban intensification award for its work on Rouge Bijou, the first multi-unit residential buildings in the Downtown Markham mixed-use development.

In collaboration with The Remington Group Inc., Quadrangle has designed the first nine multi-unit residential and mixed-use buildings on the site.

“The ambition is to establish a context for the next buildings and support the vision of Downtown Markham as a compact, sustainable, walkable and transit-oriented community,” said Quadrangle principal Sheldon Levitt.

Quadrangle said Rouge Bijou establishes a precedent for future developments through its relationship to the street and public space with a series of buildings, four in total, which create “a strong, formal” western entrance into Downtown Markham.

Ranging in height from seven to 10 storeys and housing some 450 residences, the buildings are further “enlivened” by one and two-storey, grade-related units with patio entrances and common amenity spaces and outdoor terraces “which create porches onto the public realm.”

The material palette contrasts natural stone and precast with brick with the dominant precast, establishing a base with the red brick gaining in intensity on the upper storeys. LEED Silver is being targeted.

Connected to Markham District Energy and employing a superior building envelope and in-suite energy recovery ventilators, Rouge Bijou is anticipated to be 50 per cent more energy-efficient than a conventional building designed to building code standards.

Other features include green roofs over the entrance lobbies, rainwater harvesting and limiting paved surfaces on site.

The Remington Group broke ground in May 2007 on the $3 billion Downtown Markham development.

The Markham Design Excellence Awards recognize and promote excellence in urban design.

Architects, designers, planners, landscape architects, engineers, developers, consultants, owners and individuals are honoured for various awards which include buildings of significance, community design, open space, urban intensification and design leadership and innovative sustainable design.

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