CIVITAS Inc. has specialized in urban design consulting work since its inception. Its expertise in this area has earned an international reputation leading to commissions on projects such as Coal Harbour in Vancouver, Pyrmont in Sydney, Australia and Dong Jia Du in Shanghai, China.
CIVITAS also has broad experience in preparation of urban design guidelines for major projects. Consideration for contextual, social, spatial and economic factors are paramount in the evolution of strong urban design.BC Place Redevelopment, Braid Station, Champlain, Charlestown, Coal Harbour, Dong Jia Du, East Village, Gibsons, Granville Slopes, Guilford Village, Honeysuckle Waterfront, 1088 Hornby Street, more...
BC Place Redevelopment - Vancouver, British Columbia
CIVITAS is the urban design consultant preparing development options for currently undeveloped sites surrounding BC Place Stadium, including the redevelopment of the stadium edge itself. This project is integral to the Cambie Bridgehead and Concord Pacific areas, with development parcels organized based on public open space and the urban street fabric in the area.
Public open space is critical to the function and character of the development as large events in the 60,000 seat stadium define scale, linkages, landscapes and patterning of the area. The development program includes major conference facilities, office, retail and hotel uses. Significant grades, the concentration of people movement, and the adjacency of vast residential
populations all combine to make this a critical component of the CBD.
CIVITAS’ role has involved the preparation of development scenarios and an Official Development Plan Amendment in workshops with various stakeholders. The current work includes a rezoning of the lands in preparation for development.CLIENT: PavCo - BC Pavilion Corporation
SITE AREA: 6.6 Hectares
DEVELOPABLE AREA: OFFICE 30,500 m2, EXPANED STADIUM EVENT USES 19,000 m2, HOTEL 30,000 m2
Braid Station: Transit Oriented Development Plan - Vancouver, British Columbia
CIVITAS was responsible for comprehensive planning and design for the current extension of the regional rapid transit system through two municipalities. Contracts included alignment design and station functional plans. All aspects of the work have included extensive public consultation and workshop sessions.
Central to the station area planning study was the development of transit village concept options for the redevelopment of a large warehouse site and the development of a fully inter-modal transportation hub in association with a SkyTrain station.
The concept plan represents a balance of public preferences and innovative community design principles. An implementation strategy was established as an integral element of the plan.CLIENT: RapidTransit Project 2000 Ltd.
SITE AREA: 35 acres of industrial lands at the edge of the Sapperton neighbourhood in New Westminster
Champlain - Vancouver, British Columbia
CIVITAS was responsible for the masterplan and urban design of a new residential neighbourhood located on the site of an existing under-utilized regional shopping mall. One third of the mall was to be retained and the residential component built on the remaining portion of the site.
A boulevard entry road leads to a large central park (0.55 acres) which is the focus of the residential component. Around this north-south oriented park a mix of low rise apartments and townhouses are grouped in a series of clusters, each with its own internal open space. A library pavilion terminating the east-west greenway and a plaza along the eastern edge of the Mall for the interface between residential and retail elements. The Champlain Mall redevelopment places a priority on integrating neighbourhood retail, public open space and a high degree of livability into a masterplanned community.CLIENT: PCI - Palladium Projects Inc.
Charlestown - Sydney, Australia
CIVITAS has been engaged as Master-planning consultant responsible for the redevelopment of Charlestown Square, an existing shopping centre in the centre of Charlestown. Central to the plan is the concept of using the expansion project as a catalyst for the rethinking of the entire Town Centre. The masterplan includes initiatives aimed at regenerating the “heart” of Charlestown including revitalizing the main shopping street, introducting major public plazas and gathering places, adding residential and other new uses such as entertainment and commercial, and redeveloping public open spaces and parks.
Coal Harbour - Vancouver, British Columbia
Coal Harbour is located on the south shore of Burrard Inlet bounded by the central core of the city to the south, and the major developments of Canada Place and the Bayshore Hotel to the east and west respectively. A spectacular setting – with panoramic views of the harbour and of the North Shore Mountains, Coal Harbour is a truly unique site in North America.
CIVITAS, in close liaison with Marathon Realty, the client, analyzed the constraints and opportunities affecting the future redevelopment and the creation of a waterfront activity focus. In cooperation with the City of Vancouver, the plan proposed the integration of the site with the Vancouver downtown fabric through the development of public and private uses.
Coal Harbour accommodates a mixture of office, residential, hotel, retail, entertainment and marine related uses. The total scope of the project includes 2,000 residential units, 200,000 square metres of office, a 500 room hotel and a specialty retail complex. In addition, a 4 hectare waterfront park, a Civic Plaza and a Performing Arts Centre form the focus for the development plan.CLIENT: Marathon Realty Co. Ltd.
SITE AREA: 20 Hectares
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 2,250
WATERFRONT PARK: 4 Hectares
PLOT RATIO (NET): 3.75
Dong Jia Du - Shanghai, China
CIVITAS was commissioned to develop a master plan for a 120 hectare waterfront site located on the Huang Po River in Central Shanghai.
Major features of the master plan include an open space network focused on three large parks extending from the river into the interior of the site and a continuous waterfront park and walkway. A major transportation interchange and office development is located in the southern waterfront sector.
Residential neighbourhoods are developed on a perimeter block and courtyard building typology featuring low to high-rise buildings grouped around and defining communal open spaces. The district centre features retail, commercial, and public recreation amenities.CLIENT: Bovis Lend Lease Pte. Ltd.
SITE AREA: 124 Hectares
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 17,000
PLOT RATIO (GROSS): 2.4
East Village - Calgary, Alberta
Situated in downtown Calgary on the banks of the Bow River and adjacent to the City's Civic Centre, this site was identified by the City as a prime inner city residential community.
The site consists of 135 acres of land with excellent transit, vehicular and pedestrian access. The proposed concept includes 3,500 units plus a mixed use office and retail development and community centre facilities.
The concept plan calls for the development of a major park linkage and focus providing a connection between Fort Calgary and the city core.CLIENT: City of Calgary
SITE AREA: 50 Hectares
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 3,500
Gibsons - Gibsons, British Columbia
CIVITAS was appointed to lead a consultant team to produce a Master Plan for the Gibsons Landing area. A project requirement was to engage in an intense public consultation process with the town stakeholders and the broader public.
The village area is comprised of a broad mix of uses and activities including commercial, residential and industrial. The concept plan has defined a 5-minute walking distance shopping street related to the waterfront including the preservation of view corridors and water based activities. Heritage and marine building and streetscape character were integral elements to the concept plan. Environmental conservation issues have included the protection of shore zones, streams, and harbour water quality.CLIENT: Town of Gibsons
Granville Slopes - Vancouver, British Columbia
CIVITAS was commissioned in June of 1989 to prepare a neighbourhood urban design plan for the new high density inner city precinct.
The study included components of market and economic analyses plus a comprehensive traffic study. These specialized consultant findings were provided to CIVITAS, who was responsible for the study coordination.
The research also included a requirement to work with the existing area residents in the evaluation of built form alternatives.CLIENT: City of Vancouver
SITE AREA: 11.5 Hectares
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 1,600
Guilford Village - Surrey, British Columbia
CIVITAS was engaged to assist the Planning Department in defining a long term urban design vision for the redevelopment of this important town centre area. The study area had a very fragmented suburban character with very low densities, but it had major infrastructure in place.
CIVITAS saw this as an opportunity to develop a unique urban village approach for creating a mixed use zone with distinct village atmosphere and character. Through redevelopment of grade level parking lots and integration of the existing shopping mall with retail development externally oriented around a town square and village green, the long term character could be substantially changed into one with a strong pedestrian and village character.
One of the key components of the concept was to re–establish a historic connection between the two existing regional open spaces to the east and west on the centre in the form of a linear parkway and bicycle path and a pedestrian trail system extending through the centre and linking all of the housing areas with the town square and the shopping development.CLIENT: District of Surrey Planning Dept.
SITE AREA: 126 Hectares
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 10,000
PLOT RATIO (NET): 1.60
Honeysuckle Waterfront- Newcastle, Australia
The Honeysuckle study was a State Government led effort that reached the master plan stage through joint local and State Government, business and community efforts.
As a world class development, the prime objective was to optimize long term financial returns to the State and economic and social benefits to the local community.
The concept plan included a broad mix of uses, including a major office component, residential, specialty retail, hotel and entertainment, marina and leisure activities.
Heritage buildings were protected for adaptive reuse to create a special people place and civic heart to the waterfront.CLIENT: New South Wales State Government & DEM Group
SITE AREA: 50 Hectares
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 2,700
1088 Hornby Street - Vancouver, British Columbia
Civitas was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive urban design study for a 1.5 hectare, high density, residential site in downtown Vancouver. A number of different options featuring various tower locations and base configurations were developed and evaluated.
Located on the edge of relatively dense downtown core, the challenge was to create a residential environment which contributes to its urban location, “fits” comfortably with its neighbours and adds to the life of the inner city. The results of this analysis clarified the best way to develop the site which both supported the Planning Department’s objectives and policies and the owner’s desire to produce an appropriate and marketable development.
Once a preferred option was identified an application for a CD-1 Rezoning of the site to allow a transfer of density from the nearby B.C. Hydro Building site was proposed. Included was an evaluation of the effect this increase in density will have on the form of the building and the impact it will have on the neighbourhood.CLIENT: Kingswood Properties Ltd.
SITE AREA: 1.5 Hectare
RESIDENTIAL UNITS: 250
PLOT RATIO (NET): 5.0
