Northcrest Developments has officially launched a global design competition for The Runway at YZD in Toronto.

The Runway at YZD Design Competition will task design teams with transforming an historic 1.3-mile airstrip at the former Downsview airport into the cornerstone of the future series of mixed-use communities across the 370-acre site.

The Runway at YZD is envisioned as a continuous, pedestrian-focused and publicly accessible corridor that will become its own destination. Not only will the former airstrip connect the seven complete communities at YZD, but it will also include community uses, public amenities, and recreation opportunities for the 55,000 residents and 23,000 workers that will eventually live and work at the site.

The Runway at YZD Design Competition will task design teams with developing a holistic set of design guidelines for The Runway. Critical to the ongoing redevelopment at YZD, these guidelines will shape the future of The Runway and inform how it connects and interacts with the site's neighbourhoods, all while becoming a landmark outdoor experience that stands as an international example of placemaking and innovation in adaptively reusing industrial infrastructure.

"This competition presents an extraordinary opportunity for design teams to make their mark by reimagining a cherished piece of Toronto's industrial heritage into a world-class four-season public space," says Kristy Shortall, Senior Vice-President of Development at Northcrest Developments. "The Runway is the heart of YZD. It will be the primary pedestrian corridor, and it embodies our ambitions of creating complete communities that are vibrant, sustainable and connected, prioritizing people at its core. We're excited to see the level of talent and creativity that will emerge to help bring this vision to life."

Award-winning urban designer, city-building advocate, and author Ken Greenberg will chair the competition jury, alongside other accomplished design, development and placemaking experts.

The competition will consist of two phases. Phase one will see design teams submit Expressions of Interest. For phase two, Northcrest Developments will issue Requests for Proposals to shortlisted teams. Once selected by the jury, the winning team will begin work on The Runway Design guidelines in Q3 2025.

A community-first approach has grounded Northcrest's approach from the start. For several years, Northcrest has implemented a comprehensive Meanwhile Use strategy that activates various areas of the site not immediately needed for development with free community-focused events, pop-ups, partnerships with local businesses and arts, and other cultural and recreation opportunities.

These include the Rogers Stadium, a seasonal outdoor venue that will help meet the growing demand for stadium-level tours.

"Our Meanwhile Use strategy has been instrumental in turning YZD into a vibrant community by opening this historically closed space and welcoming the public in," says Shortall. “From our perspective, it's a preview of the inclusive community we're shaping.”

Submissions for the expression of interest are due on November 22.