Australian professional-services company GHD and Danish design firm SLA have been appointed prime consultant and design lead, respectively, for Phase 1 of infrastructure and streetscape planning on Ookwemin Minising, Toronto’s new island community.

Waterfront Toronto, a federal-provincial-municipal agency overseeing the revitalization of the city’s waterfront, chose GHD and SLA for the key roles. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ookwemin Minising was formerly known as Villiers Island. The infrastructure engineering-and-design effort is part of a broader waterfront revitalization effort that will incorporate many mixed-use spaces, including 14,000 new multi-residential units.

As Connect previously reported, the federal and Ontario governments, along with the City of Toronto, have invested a combined total of $975 million in the massive redevelopment.

The project will support flood resilience, ecological restoration and housing for more than 15,000 future residents, with initial occupancy expected by 2031.

“By integrating innovative engineering with responsive design, our team will help create infrastructure that’s not just functional, but truly adaptive to community needs while honouring the ecological transformation nearing completion at the Don River mouth,” said Chris Hunter, GHD’s top executive for the Americas.

“This approach exemplifies our commitment to building resilient systems that evolve with the communities they serve.”

GHD will oversee engineering, planning and environmental services, while SLA will guide the urban realm and landscape design. Their Growing Streets concept incorporates nature-based solutions to enhance biodiversity, manage stormwater and create comfortable, connected public spaces.

Other consultants include Trophic Design for Indigenous landscape integration, Transsolar for low-carbon systems, Monumental Projects for public engagement, Level Playing Field for accessibility, and Allies and Morrison as architectural lead.

The team builds on experience from major Toronto and global developments.

Pictured: Toronto waterfront highlighting the location of Ookwemin Minising.

Photo: Courtesy of Waterfront Toronto