Objectives
Working with civil engineer WSP, HTFC Planning & Design developed a series of pedestrian-first streetscapes within the East Exchange District including heritage interpretive elements, public art, and innovative design in coordination with various City departments, CentreVenture, and local stakeholders.
Solutions
Streets redeveloped included Rorie, Market, Bertha, James, Elgin, Lily, Pacific and John Hirsch Place – the first shared pedestrian / vehicular street in Winnipeg. Borrowing space from the roadway, they created generous, comfortable and active environments with accessible sidewalks, safe pedestrian crossings, seating areas, public art, lighting improvements, sustainable tree planting, and on John Hirsch, a sustainable drainage system designed to capture surface runoff from the street and irrigate the trees.
Results
John Hirsch Place: The lane was repaved with large concrete unit paving slabs, which are regionally manufactured, stronger than concrete pavement and faster and cheaper to repair. Pavers allowed a unique paving pattern: the channel meanders of the former Brown’s Creek are recalled through an abstracted paving pattern.
Lily: Broadway Paver Intersections – James, Rupert, Pacific & Alexander: Lily Street is the major north-south access into the East Exchange bringing people into the area and connecting side streets to the important cultural and heritage features in the District. Pavers are used at intersections to calm traffic and mark important pedestrian crossing by material, texture and color change.
Team & Location
Owner: City of Winnipeg
Designer: HTFC Planning & Design
Producer: Barkman Concrete
Installer: J&D Penner