Stoss is currently working with Dub Architects and the City of Edmonton on a 4 km linear corridor along the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River Valley. The ‘Touch the Water Promenade’ travels from the Rossdale neighborhood upstream along River Valley Road to Government House Park. The project aligns with, and builds upon, the policy direction from Breathe: Edmonton’s Green Network Strategy, Ribbon of Green and River Crossing. In concept phase, two distinct plans, named ‘threads’ and ‘gateways’, have been presented to the community for input. Learn more about these two options.

In each case, the re-imagined linear riverfront carefully considers how to marry an urban environment with what currently is often an untamed, natural wildlife corridor. Restoring and preserving the wild ecology while also managing degraded infrastructure, as well as creating new connecting points into the city and weaving in exciting new programs has been the focus of the design team. The project must integrate and enhance existing heritage & cultural spaces, recreational opportunities, commuters, and provide opportunities for wildlife and native ecology to thrive.

The designs under consideration regenerate the riverbank while offering different nodes at which people can interact with nature; sometimes at high points reaching into the tree canopy; sometimes at the water’s edge allowing people to literally touch the water. Exciting opportunities include new educational programs and daylighting a stream to create new fish habitats. To that end, the design team is collaborating with Environmental Consultants, Fishery Biologists, Hydraulic Engineers, Archaeologists, and Civil/Structural Engineers to ensure a continuous ecological corridor. The site improvements take into consideration the local water and power department, transportation, and provincial/federal agency regulations. The proposed multi-layered infrastructure of the site will help clean runoff water, recharge ground water, and buffer noise and pollution from the adjacent road. In addition, providing winter activities and shelter, universal accessibility, and re-establishing Edmonton’s connection to the river are key strategic project goals.   

client

City of Edmonton

location

Edmonton, Alberta

TEAM

Dub Architects
Stoss
ISL Engineering

WILDLIFE CORRIDOR

Connecting with existing open space and enhancing wildlife connections within the promenade has been integral and informed the design at every level. Wildlife and engineering specialists have considered how to support avian, marine and mammalian wildlife along the varied (and often steep) edges of the waterfront. In addition, planning for extreme cold and proposing maintenance-friendly solutions plays into the ultimate design solution.