PARTISANS was selected to redesign Windsor’s four acre premier riverfont event space, transforming the large existing asphalt event grounds into an all-season, all-day cultural destination. PARTISANS is leading the design of the project which includes a landscape inspired by the flows of the adjacent Detroit River, as well as an iconic, long span canopy to shelter concert goers. The canopy is designed around the concept of outdoor comfort—it’s form optimized for solar and wind control through all seasons to extend the events programming season. Spanning the entire concert area to house 5,350 attendees, the canopy is clad in translucent ETFE. The canopy will be supported with engaging lighting activations that can augment its civic presence, and support programming and site activations.
As an outdoor space, the design of Festival Plaza creates animated paths through a series of landscaped ‘islands’—inspired by the twenty-eight unique islands along the Detroit River —which are strategically located to create a dynamic, and diverse experiences and which integrate with the existing riverfront trail. The site also features a large flexible lawn—a flat open space designed to accommodate passive uses, recurring or ad-hoc recreational activities, as well as special programming and sponsored events through all seasons.