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Urban Design Strategy for Downtown Ottawa

Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy map [ PDF 512 KB ]

Core Area Concept of Canada's Capital

1. Le Breton Flats
2. Sparks Street Area
3. Bank Street Axis
4. Chaudiere and Victoria Islands
5. Connecting with Gatineau Park
6. Industrial Land Scott Paper

Downtown West Precinct

7. Escarpment Park
8. Escarpment Park District
9. The Redevelopment of the Former Ottawa Technical High School Site

Business Precinct

10. Urban Open Space Programme
11. Laurier Avenue West Beautification
12. Albert Street & Slater Street Beautification
13. The Interface District: Queen/Wellington/Sparks
    1. Displaying Canada's Culture: Bay/Lyon/Kent/Bank/O'Connor/Metcalfe/Elgin
    2. Sparks Street
    3. Queen Street

ByWard Market Precinct

14. Public Realm Design Competition
15. ByWard Market Centre Standardization and Theming
16. Conversion/Removal/Remodelling of the ByWard Parking Structure
17. Heritage Restoration Programme: St. Patrick & Murray Streets, Parent & Guigues Avenues
18. Market East Reurbanization Zone
19. Re-imaging of York Street East and George Street
20. Restore Dalhousie as a Main Street

Retail, Arts and Theatre Precinct

21. Rideau Centre Façade Improvement Programme
22. Rideau Street West Beautification
23. Colonel By Redesign including the Sussex/Rideau Entrance
24. Heritage Asset Protection & Street Theming Programme

University Precinct

25. King Edward South Beautification
26. Cumberland Street Beautification
27. Urban Grid Reconstruction Zone: Nicholas/Laurier/Mackenzie/Waller/Rideau
28. University Planning Programmes

Central Canal Area Precinct

29. Elgin Street Beautification
30. Lisgar Street Beautification
31. Open Space Expansion & Narrowing of Elgin Street
32. Heritage District Open Space Enhancement
33. Canal Edge Treatment
34. Re-imaging and Integration of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway Arrival Sequence
35. Central Park on the Canal & Confederation Park Design Competition

Centretown East

36. Elgin Street Beautification
    1. Elgin Street
    2. O'Connor Street
    3. Somerset Street
37. Metcalfe Gateway & Canadian Museum of Nature Block Restoration
38. Urban Open Space Programme

Bank Street Corridor

39. Bank Street Beautification
40. Bank Street Corridor Intensification Programme
41. Urban Open Space Programme

The Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy 20/20 is built around four complementary approaches. Each approach contains a bundle of projects to address different urban issues at different geographic scales.

Each approach contributes to the realization of an improved Downtown Ottawa. This structure has been prepared to ensure that there is a logical sequence in the progression of the design guidance from large downtown-wide initiatives to smaller scale targeted projects. The approaches identified include Area-Wide Strategies appropriate for the entire downtown area, Precinct Strategies that address the general conditions and larger issues within each precinct and Targeted Strategies that focus on very specific design issues within each precinct. The latter two approaches focus on developing action-oriented, issue-specific strategies for geographically defined areas. They also include illustrated built form guidelines, that can form the basis of more detailed study in Phase 2 and/or be translated into zoning and other implementation mechanisms as appropriate. The Area-Wide Strategies focus on addressing more generic urban design issues which cannot be confined to any one geographic location. An NCC-led approach to downtown improvements has also been included.

Area-Wide Strategies

Area-Wide Strategies are larger-scale strategic projects that, once realized, will impact on the image and experience of the downtown as a whole. Generally, Area-Wide Strategies address public realm issues, such as general streetscape infrastructure, open space and urban forest, as well as public art and design.

National Capital Commission Core Area Vision

The Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy integrates the six projects that comprise the National Capital Commission's Vision for the Core Area. These projects form the heart of the NCC's capital expenditure program for the National Capital Region and will be implemented over the coming years. Many of the civic projects identified in this strategy build on the NCC Core Area initiatives.

General Precinct Strategies

Precinct Strategies are more general in nature than Targeted Strategies and frequently contain clusters of projects. Each Precinct Strategy identifies a recommended plan of action with regard to appropriate built form and scale, streetscape infrastructure requirements and parks and open space provisions.

Targeted Precinct Strategies

Targeted Strategies are smaller-scale projects that address very specific design issues at the precinct level (such as infill, heights, heritage preservation, potential development sites, parking, views, etc.). Combined, these smaller-scale area-based projects create a vision for the precinct and make a significant positive impact to both the local area as well as the image of the City as a whole.

Core Area Concept of Canada's Capital

The Core Area Concept of Canada's Capital prepared by the National Capital Commission creates a departure point for the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy 2020.

The unique sense of place, held jointly by both Gatineau and Ottawa, must play a strong role in the future of both urban centres. The Core Area Initiatives outlined below can be categorized into two streams. The first stream contributes directly to the experience of downtown Ottawa at present and into the future. These NCC initiatives include:

1. LeBreton Flats
2. Sparks Street Area
3. Bank Street Axis

The second stream of initiatives provide the context and the connectivity across the Ottawa River and into Gatineau as a part of a more inclusive and expansive Capital Region experience. These include:

1. Chaudière and Victoria Islands
2. Connecting with Gatineau Park
3. Scott Paper Industrial Land

It is the goal of the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy to develop a series of parallel initiatives within the Civic Realm of the downtown. Each of the NCC's Core Area Initiatives are presented in more detail below.

1. LeBreton Flats

The primary goal for LeBreton Flats is to reclaim this high-profile waterfront location for a 65 hectare new mixed-use community supporting a significant provision of parks and open spaces. The site will be anchored by the new Canadian War Museum, which is to be relocated from its current location on Sussex Drive. In addition to this major new attraction, plans have been approved for LeBreton Flats to become a mixed-use quarter containing residential developments, office spaces, commercial units and major new open spaces, including a Festival Park and direct public access to the riverfront.

To realize this new development, a section of the Ottawa River Parkway is being relocated southward as part of LeBreton Boulevard.

The Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy proposes that LeBreton be fully integrated with downtown via the Downtown West Precinct and the escarpment. Achieving maximum connectivity between these two areas is essential.

2. Sparks Street Area

This ambitious project is focused on revitalizing the Sparks Street Mall area between Metcalfe and O'Connor Street. New mixed-use development containing residential units and quality retail and office space is proposed for this location. This project will consider and build on new projects currently underway along Sparks Street, including the new CBC building and mixed-use residential developments.

This project will consider and build on new projects currently underway along Sparks Street, including the new CBC building and mixed-use residential developments.

As part of this project, the NCC is currently undertaking a Vocation Study to explore opportunities for the reinvigoration of Sparks Street.

3. Bank Street Axis

The Bank Street Axis project will effectively extend the Bank Street pedestrian and visual corridor northwards down to the Ottawa River. This will provide a critical connection between the Civic and Capital Realms, including Bank Street, the Parliamentary Precinct, the Escarpment Valley and the Ottawa River. This project also includes the redevelopment of Victoria Way and the upper portion of Bank Street.

Enhanced water access will be provided through the installation of a riverside dock/quay or floating island for water activities. Terraced steps and/or a funicular system will connect the Wellington Street/Bank Street junction with the Ottawa River. Existing on-site parking will be relocated and the area restored to its natural habitat.

4. Chaudière and Victoria Islands

These important islands form a symbolic and physical link between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The NCC has sophisticated proposals for the redevelopment of the islands, with a strong focus on Victoria Island and the eastern tip of Chaudière Island. It is the goal of the NCC to create a new meeting place and destination between the Cities of Ottawa and Gatineau for Canadians and international visitors to the region.

A major new Aboriginal Centre is planned for Victoria Island adjacent to a renovated Carbide Mill. New commercial, cultural, recreational and industrial activities will be introduced to attract visitors to the site. A new pedestrian and cycle system is proposed with footbridges, boardwalks piers and quays, that will create new lookout points and a fully integrated pedestrian and cycle network. Water activities will be encouraged with increased river access and docking facilities.

5. Connecting with Gatineau Park

This project aims to improve access to Gatineau Park for visitors to the Capital. It includes the development of a landscaped urban boulevard between St.-Joseph Boulevard and the Gatineau Parkway by the continuation of St.-Laurent-Laramée-McConnell Boulevard. The project will create a direct link with Confederation Boulevard. Targeted public realm improvements will be introduced along new routes.

6. Scott Paper Industrial Land

This longer-term proposal from the NCC aims to re-image the industrial lands around Scott Paper.

This 7.4 hectare site situated on the banks of the Ottawa River in the City of Gatineau was recently purchased by the NCC and requires significant remediation before the creation of the proposed new waterfront Capital Park. To realize the longer-term vision for this high-profile site, existing industrial uses will need to be relocated.

The proposed Capital Park will offer public access to the Ottawa River shoreline and introduce new floating dock facilities for boats and other water activities. It is anticipated that the park will support opportunities for major public gatherings, recreation activities and tourist developments, including the introduction of future capital symbols and tourism-related buildings.