Photos courtesy Ontario Concrete Awards

The University of Toronto Varsity Centre Pavilion won the Structural Design Innovation award at the Ontario Concrete Awards (OCA) held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre earlier this month.

Sponsored by the province's concrete industry, the 9^th annual Ontario Concrete Awards (OCA) were given out earlier this month, acknowledging a diverse group of buildings and facilities.

This year's award-winning projects included:

•Architectural Merit: McMaster University's Engineering Technology Building in Hamilton (Vermeulen Hind Architects, Halcrow Yolles, and Bird Construction);

• Architectural Hardscape: Turner Skate Park in Hamilton (LANDinc, Blackwell Bowick Partnership, Aquicon Construction, and UCC Group);

• Mid- to High-rise Residential: Chateau Parc Condominium in Vaughan (Karp Namisniak Yamomoto Architects, Leonard Kalishenko & Associates, and Alterra Group);

• Structural Design Innovation: University of Toronto Varsity Centre Pavilion (Diamond and Schmitt Architects, Halcrow Yolles, and M.J. Dixon Construction);

• Infrastructure: Clyde Avenue (Ottawa) rapid bridge replacement (McCormick Rankin Corporation and Dufferin Construction Co.);

• Sustainable Concrete Construction: Kingston Police Headquarters (Rebanks Pepper Littlewood, Shoalts and Zaback Architects, Roney Engineering, and MCW Consultants);

• Material Development and Innovation–Precast: Guelph Data Centre (Adamson Associates, Quinn Design, and PCL Constructors); and

• Material Development and Innovation–Cast-in-place concrete: Mountain Equipment Co-op Burlington store (Stone McQuire Vogt Architects, Equilibrium Consulting, Enermodel Engineering, PCL Constructors, and Belmont Concrete Finishing).

Bart Kanters, P.Eng., a member of the OCA organizing committee, said the program began in 2000 to recognize both the use of concrete, and the contributions of owner, architect, engineer, contractor, and material suppliers.

"Years ago, there were a number of Ontario award competitions, but there wasn't one that recognized the architectural, structural, and sustainable benefits of concrete, even though it is the most used construction material in the world," he explained.

The OCA banquet coincided with Concrete Canada, part of the 21^st annual Construct Canada show, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre earlier this month.

For a complete list of projects and teams, see ontarioconcreteawards.ca.

At the OCA banquet, the team behind the Kingston Police Headquarters took home the award for Sustainable Concrete Construction.