Civic Square Renewal

Conceptual landscape design for Civic Square is underway and is expected to be complete in Spring 2025.

Features of the design include:

• a new entryway centered on the façade of City Hall,
• architectural canopies with lighting and public art along the building façade,
• reduced parking lot size to increase public space,
• an in-ground water feature with water jets and lighting,
• use of recycled and sustainable materials, native plants, and resource and energy, efficient systems like LED lighting and water runoff reuse, and
• accessible concrete paving and seating opportunities.

The project schedule has also been updated. Key milestones of the updated schedule include:

The project schedule was revised to secure permits before tendering and avoid a winter shutdown in the middle of construction.

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The Civic Square final preferred concept is based on extensive engagement and feedback from the community. It is an evolution of Concept 2 - Atrium to include some design features from the other two concepts.

The preferred concept includes key features such as:

• a new entryway,
• focal point canopies at Brant Street/James Street and Elgin Street,
• continuous canopies along the building facade,
• transitions to nearby properties and streets,
• a variety of seating,
• flag poles at the building entrance,
• an in-ground water feature with water jets and
• wave-themed patterns in paved surfaces.

The project is moving into Phase Three of its communication and engagement plan. This next stage will inform interested parties and the community of the final preferred concept design until September.

The upcoming project schedule includes detailed design, permits and approvals from July 2024 to March 2025, tender in February/March 2025 and construction from June 2025 to June 2026.

The construction budget for the project is $6.6M with funding from the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario and the City.

How was the preferred concept chosen?

The City worked with consultants and used feedback from residents, businesses, community partners and Indigenous and First Nations groups to create three concepts for Civic Square, City Hall front entrance, façade and streetscapes. Residents, community partners and businesses were asked to view the concepts and answer a short survey online at getinvolvedburlington.ca/civicsquare or in-person.

Residents were able to pick their preferred concept and choose parts of the other concepts to combine them into a design that uses the best features of all three concepts. This helped the project team to create the best design to turn the area into a vibrant, exciting and accessible space where people can connect in the downtown core.

The City of Burlington has a final preferred concept design for Civic Square. It has also selected LeuWebb Projects as the Lead Artists for the Civic Square Renewal project.

The reconstruction of Civic Square will make sure important infrastructure is renewed.

The Civic Square final preferred concept is based on extensive engagement and feedback from the community. It is an evolution of Concept 2 - Atrium to include some design features from the other two concepts.

The preferred concept includes key features such as:

• a new entryway,
• focal point canopies at Brant Street/James Street and Elgin Street,
• continuous canopies along the building facade,
• transitions to nearby properties and streets,
• a variety of seating,
• flag poles at the building entrance,
• an in-ground water feature with water jets and
• wave-themed patterns in paved surfaces.

The project is moving into Phase Three of its communication and engagement plan. This next stage will inform interested parties and the community of the final preferred concept design until September.

The upcoming project schedule includes detailed design, permits and approvals from July 2024 to March 2025, tender in February/March 2025 and construction from June 2025 to June 2026.

The construction budget for the project is $6.6M with funding from the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario and the City.

How was the preferred concept chosen?

The City worked with consultants and used feedback from residents, businesses, community partners and Indigenous and First Nations groups to create three concepts for Civic Square, City Hall front entrance, façade and streetscapes. Residents, community partners and businesses were asked to view the concepts and answer a short survey online at getinvolvedburlington.ca/civicsquare or in-person.

Residents were able to pick their preferred concept and choose parts of the other concepts to combine them into a design that uses the best features of all three concepts. This helped the project team to create the best design to turn the area into a vibrant, exciting and accessible space where people can connect in the downtown core.

Some of the intended final design objectives for the refresh are:

• Enhancing community connections - Focus on walkability and amenities for pedestrians.
• Versatility
• Developing community identity - Bring together arts and culture through festivals, events and ceremonies.
• Creating a welcoming, accessible and comfortable public space – A public space that is vibrant, safe and comfortable for all.

Civic Square Public Art

LeuWebb Projects will be working directly with the project team to develop integrated, permanent public artwork(s) to be installed in Civic Square. The artists will be working with the team over the summer and fall to identify public art opportunities and create a detailed public art plan for the site.

• There will be more opportunities for the public to provide feedback on the public art plan at future events such as Food for Feedback.
• The artwork will be installed in 2026 as part of the larger Civic Square construction project.

How was the lead artist selected?

A Call for Artists was issued in January 2024 to Canadian professional artists. The City received 43 applications. A community jury of local artists, arts professionals and project supporters reviewed the applications and selected four artists for the short-list. The shortlisted artists prepared a presentation about their work and project approach and were interviewed by the community jury.

Public art budget

The budget for the public art is $200,000. This includes Phase 1 -Public Art Plan and Phase 2 - Artwork Fabrication and Installation. The budget includes all components related to the artwork design, engineering, fabrication and installation. Ten per cent of the budget will go to the Public Art Maintenance Reserve. The funding for the public art is from a prior Community Benefits Charge contribution.

About LeuWebb Projects

LeuWebb Projects is a creative collaboration between artists, architects and educators Christine Leu and Alan Webb. Since 2011, LeuWebb Projects has created site-specific artworks, ranging from ephemeral, technology-driven installations to robust and permanent city fixtures. Combining their expertise with their shared core interests of access, activism and discovery, LeuWebb Projects operates at the intersection of art and design, imagining how the two can tangibly evoke past, present, and future narratives for a richer experience of place.

Construction on the space will begin in the summer of 2025. The project will be complete in 2026.

Update report to the Committee of the Whole. Report includes the preferred concept and the summary of engagement.

Requests to delegate to this hybrid meeting can be made by completing the online delegation registration form at www.burlington.ca/delegate(External link), by submitting a written request by email to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@burlington.ca(External link) or by phoning 905-335-7600, ext. 7481 by noon the business day before the meeting is to be held.

Please watch this presentation before completing the survey. It will give you all the information you need in order to select which option you prefer. To enable the closed captioning, hover over the video and select the CC icon.

The City of Burlington has worked with consultants and used feedback from residents, businesses, community partners and Indigenous and First Nations groups to create three concepts of Civic Square, City Hall front entrance, façade and streetscapes.

Residents, community partners and businesses are asked to view the concepts, and answer a short survey. The online survey will be open until June 9.

An in-person drop-in session is scheduled at City Hall (426 Brant St.) on Wednesday, June 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Staff will be in the City Hall lobby with concepts on display to take feedback and answer questions. Parking downtown after 6 p.m. is free on weekdays.

Residents can not only pick the concept they prefer, but also select aspects of the other concepts to combine into a design that uses the best features of all three concepts.

Providing your feedback will allow staff to create the best design that will help us turn the area into a vibrant, exciting and accessible space where people can connect in the downtown core.

Some of the intended final design objectives for the refresh are:

• Enhancing community connections - Focus on walkability and amenities for pedestrians
• Versatility
• Developing community identity - Bring together arts and culture through festivals, events and ceremonies
• Creating a welcoming, accessible and comfortable public space – A public space that is vibrant, safe and comfortable for all

Construction on the space will begin in the summer of 2025. The project will be complete in 2026.

The video of the presentation from the Nov 21, 2023 PIC is now available to view. To enable the closed captioning, hover over the video and select the CC icon.

The City of Burlington will be refreshing the area surrounding City Hall. This includes Civic Square, City Hall’s front entrance and facade and the streetscapes of Brant Street and Elgin Street in the immediate area.

The public is invited to provide feedback on the overall look, feel and functionality of the space. They can do this online or at one of three in-person public engagement sessions.

Help us turn the area into a vibrant, exciting and accessible space where people can connect in the downtown core.

Some of the intended final design objectives for the refresh are:

• Enhancing community connections - Focus on walkability and amenities for pedestrians
• Preserving and enhancing nature
• Developing community identity - Bring together arts and culture through festivals, events and ceremonies
• Creating a welcoming, accessible and comfortable public space – A public space that is vibrant, safe and comfortable for all

Construction on the space will begin in the summer of 2025. The project will be complete in 2026.

Public engagement opportunities

• Sept. 16, noon to 4 p.m. Food for Feedback at Central Park, 2299 New St.
• Nov. 15, 7 to 9 p.m. City Hall lobby, 426 Brant St.
• Nov. 21, 7 to 9 p.m. Online. Register at getinvolvedburlington.ca/civicsquare