The West Toronto Railpath, designed by Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. and Brown and Storey Architects, received a Certificate of Merit in the Civic Design Projects category from the 2012 National Urban Design Awards. The principals of both firms are alumni of the University of Toronto's architecture and landscape architecture programs: Scott Torrance received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 1994; while James Brown and Kim Storey graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1978. 

The West Toronto Railpath is a 2.1 Kilometre multi use trail for pedestrians and cyclists that runs through Toronto's Junction neighbourhood. Formerly an abandoned rail corridor, the linear park was designed with indigenous plants that once grew there to create a resilient, sustainable, and low maintenance landscape that connects neighbourhoods. 

"Toronto’s West Toronto Railpath is a significant part to the city’s growing bicycle network of trails, with nine unique plazas and trail connections," commented the jury. "The project combines wisely the restoration of historical rail bridges with the installation of new public art, and includes a palette of indigenous planting - important elements of placemaking and character of this area of city. The Railpath had a key role in the revitalization of the once derelict industrial area improving connections, access, creating a frontage where new residential development can be located to reuse former industrial lands."

For more information, visit the 2012 National Urban Design Awards website.