TORONTO \u2013 GHD, design studio SLA and Waterfront Toronto have unveiled the design for the public realm and streetscapes of Ookwemin Minising, Toronto\u2019s new island community in the Port Lands.<\/p>\n
The \u201cGrowing Streets\u201d concept places streets and public spaces at the beginning of city-making, \u201cshaping not only how the neighbourhood looks, but how it lives, grows and connects,\u201d explains a release.<\/p>\n
The streets are designed to perform as infrastructure and will manage stormwater, reduce urban heat and support biodiversity.<\/p>\n
Rainwater is captured, filtered and reused through integrated green infrastructure, while planting strategies create habitats for local species.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis project demonstrates how infrastructure and public space can work as one integrated system,\u201d said Chris Hunter, GHD chief executive officer for the Americas, in a statement. \u201cBy embedding climate resilience, water management and low-carbon strategies directly into the streetscape, we\u2019re creating infrastructure that not only performs at a high level but also enhances everyday life and supports long-term sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n GHD is the prime consultant and technical lead for the project and SLA is design lead for the urban realm and landscape.<\/p>\n The design is structured around five strategies \u2013 including Living Legacy, Ookwemin Minising Character, Space for Nature, Strategic Density and Everyday Mobility.<\/p>\n The public realm design is based on the site\u2019s history and its transformation from industrial waterfront to restored river landscape and was developed in close collaboration with Indigenous co-designers Trophic Design.<\/p>\n The broader design team includes Allies and Morrison (architecture and density), Transsolar (sustainability and low-carbon infrastructure), Monumental Projects (public engagement and community outreach) and Level Playing Field (accessibility services).<\/p>\n Spanning 10.9 hectares of mixed-use development, first occupancy is expected in the early 2030s at Ookwemin Minising.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/cc-production-uploads-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2026\/05\/NORM-LI_260427_EXT-OOKWEMIN-ST_VF-01_2web.png\")