Located along Coronation Boulevard in Cambridge, this project was based on the outcome of a watershed master plan study commissioned by the City of Cambridge. The strategy included an earthen flood control berm in Dumfries Conservation Area, upgrading of the culvert crossing Coronation Boulevard and re-design of the channel crossing through the Galt Country Club.
SDG was involved in all three portions of the flood control strategy to aid in the preparation of various reports as well as preparing detailed planting plans, tree inventories and tree protection plans.
For the realignment of the creek through the golf course, the maintenance needs of the golf course had to be taken into account while ensuring that all planting was native.
Working closely with the golf course architect and the golf course superintendent, planting was selected that helped to stabilize the banks while enhancing the aesthetic of the corridor and maintaining sight lines and playing conditions within the golf course.
Grand Award | American Council of Engineering Companies
Gold Award | American Council of Engineering Companies (Massachusetts)
Hamilton Halton Project of the Year (Transportation)
Award of Merit | Consulting Engineers of Ontario
OPWA Project of the Year | Ontario Public Works Association
The King Road Grade Separation at the CN rail lines in Burlington is one of the largest road improvement projects in Burlington, with a construction budget of over $24 million. One of the key challenges to this project was construction of a creek bridge, or aqueduct, to allow a tributary of Indian Creek to flow over the realigned roadway on the north side of the railway.
Working in conjunction with Conservation Halton and the City of Burlington, SDG developed a landscape restoration plan for 450m of realigned Indian Creek that included, native plantings, restorative seed mixtures, live staking, aquatic plugs, erosion control measures, and woody debris and root wads. All landscape restoration measures were fully coordinated with the Environmental Assessment. SDG provided full landscape architectural services, from conceptual design through to contract administration. The project scope also included several public consultation events. The King Road grade separation was officially opened in December 2013, with the completion of the creek restoration works completed in 2014.
SDG was retained by the Joseph Brant Hospital to complete a transformation of the hospital’s central courtyard which lacked a sense of community and place. The hospital courtyard was re-designed to allow terminal and long-term residents of the hospital use of the space year round. SDG carried this project from concept through to implementation. It provided an opportunity to mentor students of the Humber College Landscape Design program. Haig Seferian worked closely with the President of Humber College and the college instructors to give students hands-on experience implementing the firm’s integrated and innovative design.
Landscape Ontario Award of Excellence | Commercial Construction – Multi-residential & Industrial Over | $250,000 category
The Molinaro Group developed a multidisciplinary team for this much anticipated project in the heart of Midtown Burlington. The project consists of five high rise condominiums, designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects, on the north side of Fairview Street adjacent to the recently renovated Burlington GO Station.
The interior courtyard provides a central design element to the overall site while the roof top amenity spaces includes a large outdoor fitness track as well as dining and seating areas.
With a high level of design evident for this project it will also be LEED certified and will set a new standard for development in Burlington.
Burlington Annual Accessibility Award | Accessible Space category | 2011
The Art Gallery of Burlington (formerly Burlington Art Centre) has been a focal point on the Burlington waterfront since 1978. It houses the world’s largest Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, provides gallery space for invited and guild artists and fully equipped studio spaces. The AGB approached SDG to completely renovate an enclosed exterior garden space in the centre of the facility. A key component of the design was a new water feature. The space also now features a staging area for entertainment, seating and a floral backdrop for garden art work.
The project received the City of Burlington’s 1st Annual Accessibility Award in the Accessible Space category which was presented by the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Cover photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Burlington.
Located along Maple Avenue with magnificent views of Lake Ontario, STRATA was completed by The Molinaro Group in Burlington and is the perfect place for those who are green-minded. The building includes a geothermal heating and cooling system and is one of the first condominiums in Burlington to register for LEED certification. It has a striking street presence and includes a rooftop terrace with a truly “Zen” feel.
ASLA Landscape Architecture Magazine | “A Garden Comes Together in Layers
Nature-Based Design in Landscape Architecture | “Towards Solving for Homeless and Indigenous Populations” | p.252-259 | Bruce Sharky (FASLA)
McQueston Lofts (Parkdale Landing) is a four-storey new building designed by Invizij Architects is the completing phase of an urban infill redevelopment transforming a long-neglected, landmark site. Owned by Indwell Community Homes, the building was designed with wood construction, for its cost effectiveness and carbon sequestration properties, the building includes 50 one-bedroom apartments and is certified with PHIUS (the Passive House Institute US).
In 2021 the project was awarded co-winner Best Overall Category Passive House Projects in North America. The building’s overall design aesthetic references stacked shipping containers, reflecting its nearby industrial neighbourhoods in East Hamilton. The shape of the building creates a protected courtyard between the two buildings, with large south-facing communal balconies. On the street-facing portion of the ground floor is the Parkdale Branch of the Hamilton Public Library. The site plan also includes a private dog-park for tenants, as the complex is pet-friendly.
The project is developed in conjunction with local Indigenous organizations to address issues of Indigenous homelessness. To reflect this priority, the landscaping is designed with twelve traditional Indigenous plantings in the four directions including sage, tobacco, cedar, and sweet grass around a central symbolic fire gathering area.
Seferian Design Group – Landscape Architects, won two DNA Paris Design awards this week.
The first award was for a residential project in Simcoe called Simcoe Sophistication which won in the Landscape Design/ Private Gardens category. The second award was for the Cayuga Grand Vista Trail in Cayuga, ON, in the Landscape Design/Parks & Public spaces, Educational, Community & Recreation Facilities category.
The DNA Paris Design Awards is an accolade honouring the work of international architects and designers, who improve our daily lives through practical, beautiful and innovative design. The winners were announced on Victoria Day, May 18, 2020.
Simcoe Sophistication is a historical estate from the 19th century that required a complete re-design. Careful consideration of existing site features and proper planning to include new features put the design process to the test. The site is very flat and therefore, drainage became one of the most important issues. The final product was a result of a year and a half of design followed by three years of construction. The site was quite open to the surrounding neighbours and creating privacy was the number one request. Large caliper trees were spaded into place and now, no neighbouring homes can be seen.
The Cayuga Grand Vista Trail is a 1.2 km trail that has reclaimed the CN Rail bridge across the Grand River as a community amenity that promotes health and wellbeing, connection to nature and understanding of local history. The Cayuga Bridge builds on its social value through unique design excellence. It is designed to meet CSA S6-14, the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, and is fully AODA accessible. Two cantilevered viewing platforms have been constructed along the bridge’s length, oriented to the curve of the river and supplied with surface-mounted benches that offer a place to stop, rest and view the beautiful Grand River.
Seferian Design Group is a leading Burlington-based Landscape Architectural Design firm with decades of experience in the public/private sector, planning/design across Canada, the U.S. and internationally. We work collaboratively with our clients, and with a wide range of specialists and collateral professions to create innovative, imaginative places that incorporate both social and environmental well being.
Due to concerns related to COVID-19 and the well-being of our staff, clients and community in mind, SDG has made the tough decision to close our office until further notice. All of our team members’ work phones, cell phones and email will be checked regularly. This plan of action is designed to cause as little disruption as possible to our clients, while keeping our team and their families safe. For all of our team members and clients, we recommend using the precautions outlined by Health Canada including proper hand washing. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and release updates as appropriate.
