NORR was awarded the design of the Canadian Customs and Immigration Agency’s Redevelopment of the Peace Bridge Plaza and Border Crossing. The landmark Peace Bridge Authority’s project design reflects “a new Canadian image of confidence and sophistication”, while paying homage to regional history. The design makes strong reference to the historic stone construction of the local buildings, historical fortress and archeological artifacts discovered in the area. It was also inspired by the native long house shelter and the native canoe, which was one of the earliest forms of transportation used to cross the Niagara River.The curving wood roof of the central Customs and Immigration Building creates an embracing space that is materially warm and friendly, making the adjacent vehicle inspection area atmosphere less intimidating. A central skylight runs the full length of the roof, bringing natural light deep into the two-storey building. The relatively solid stone masses of the Administration and Refugee Processing buildings and the use of stone traffic barriers were selected to blur the distinction between site and structure.
AWARDS:
2010 - Ontario Association of Architects, Award of Design Excellence,
2009 - AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Justice Knowledge Community Justice Facility Review.
2008 - 20 + 10+ X World Architecture (WA) Community Awards 2. Cycle, , Citation by Honourary Members
2008 - Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), Canadian Plaza at the Peace Bridge (Government of Canada, the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority) Fort Erie, Ontario, Ontario Steel Design Award, Award of Merit, Architectural Category
2007 - Wood Design Awards – Merit, Canadian Plaza at the Peace Bridge
2007 - Wood WORKS! Institutional Wood Design Award,
2007 - Ontario Public Works Association, Project of the Year Award in Transportation greater than $10 million.
2005 - Ontario Concrete Awards, Precast Concrete - Structural Design Innovation Award
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