Through the two stage 2013 Visionary (re)Generation International Design Competition, the University of Manitoba (U of M) invited the world’s most accomplished urban thinkers to re-imagine the University’s Fort Garry Campus.

Janet Rosenberg & Studio’s submission, entitled Arpent, was selected as the winning entry. The Arpent strategy was driven by sustainable principles and community based design, utilizing the sites natural features to define and organize meaningful development on the 690 acre site.

In 2014, JRS was further engaged by the university to guide the refinement of the master plan into a buildable concept. As the project lead, JRS collaborated with a team of multidisciplinary sub-consultants and stakeholders to define clear built form and open space structure for future campus growth within the four distinct precincts: Core Campus; Southwood; Smart Park; and, The Point Lands.

The Master Plan addresses issues of: transit; new street networks; new mixed-use developments; open green spaces and community spaces; new university facilities and learning landscapes. Green linkages and strong connections to the Red River remain core aspects of the design. The project involved extensive consultation with stakeholders including indigenous cultures to ensure visibility of the regions cultural diversity and history. The key principles defined in the master plan include:

• A design grounded in history and sense of place
• Compact walkable neighbourhoods
• Diverse and integrated building typologies
• Innovative and sustainable solutions
• Green streets and community integration
• Living in an exemplary community

The Campus Master Plan was approved by the Board of Governors in April 2016. The Southwood Local Area Plan (LAP), Final Draft, was submitted to the University of Manitoba on July 26, 2017.