One of the project’s defining features is the rehabilitation of three modernist towers designed by Ottawa architect James Strutt and originally completed in 1967. Rather than treating these structures as isolated heritage objects, the redevelopment incorporates them into the daily life of the waterfront. The buildings have been transformed into fully accessible facilities housing gender-neutral washrooms, a café and a lifeguard office, while improved daylight and circulation create a more welcoming environment for visitors. An earth-sheltered pavilion now features a publicly accessible green roof that extends naturally into the surrounding landscape, blurring the boundary between architecture and terrain.
Complementing the restored structures is a newly constructed four-season restaurant designed to operate at net-zero carbon. Together, the historic buildings and contemporary additions establish a dialogue between preservation and innovation, demonstrating that heritage conservation can actively contribute to the long-term sustainability of public infrastructure.

Perhaps the most visible transformation occurred along the river’s edge. A former 65-space car park was removed entirely, allowing the creation of generous green spaces, new river outlooks and improved pedestrian connections. Replacing hard infrastructure with landscape significantly enhances both the ecological and social performance of the site. Visitors now experience uninterrupted views across the Ottawa River, while a thematic children’s play area references the area’s historic logging industry, adding another layer of interpretation to the landscape. The project illustrates an increasingly important principle within contemporary waterfront redevelopment: reallocating land from vehicles to people not only improves accessibility and biodiversity but also strengthens the identity and resilience of public space.

Ecological restoration formed an integral component of the redevelopment strategy. Invasive vegetation was removed, tree root systems were carefully protected and almost the entire mature tree population was retained throughout construction. These interventions also revealed archaeological and geological features that had long been concealed beneath soil and invasive planting. Among the most significant discoveries were the stone foundations of Skead’s Mill and stromatolite fossils dating back approximately 500 million years. Rather than relocating these features, the design team chose to interpret them in situ through a coordinated wayfinding and signage programme. Visitors are therefore able to encounter multiple layers of natural and cultural history as part of their everyday experience of the waterfront, reinforcing the site’s unique sense of place.

Material selection plays an important role throughout the redevelopment, extending beyond architecture into the landscape itself. Site furnishings were conceived as an integral part of the overall design rather than simply functional additions. A key element of this strategy is the incorporation of the Drifter benches and Drifter Structure by Streetlife. Characterised by their square timber profiles, the furniture directly references the squared logs that once travelled along the Ottawa River to local sawmills. The result is a subtle yet meaningful connection between contemporary public space and the site’s industrial history.
Positioned prominently on the main terrace, the Drifter Structure has become one of the waterfront’s most active social spaces. Timber beams of varying lengths and heights encourage multiple forms of use, including sitting, reclining, gathering and informal play. Instead of prescribing behaviour, the installation invites visitors to appropriate the space in their own way, contributing to the flexibility that increasingly defines successful public landscapes.

The choice of landscape furniture also reflects broader sustainability objectives. During the design process, the NCC initially explored the possibility of producing bespoke benches from salvaged logs. Ultimately, the selected Streetlife solution offered advantages that extended beyond aesthetics. The use of timber that might otherwise have gone to waste supports circular material principles, while the products‘ durability and low maintenance requirements align with the project’s lifecycle approach to sustainability. By considering longevity alongside environmental performance, the specification contributes to reducing both operational impacts and future resource consumption. This attention to detail demonstrates how sustainable landscape architecture is achieved not only through large-scale planning decisions but also through informed material selection and thoughtful product specification.

Perhaps the project’s greatest achievement lies in the seamless integration of old and new. Restored heritage structures, newly introduced public amenities, mature vegetation and contemporary landscape interventions combine to create a coherent public environment rather than a collection of individual design gestures. Because almost all existing trees were preserved, the redeveloped waterfront opened with an established landscape character rarely found in newly completed public projects. Mature planting immediately provides shade, biodiversity and visual continuity, reinforcing the feeling that the new interventions have always belonged within the riverside setting.
The Westboro Beachfront redevelopment demonstrates that successful waterfront design depends on understanding the relationship between ecology, heritage and public life. Rather than prioritising iconic architecture or singular design statements, the project succeeds through a series of carefully considered decisions that operate across multiple scales—from regional landscape planning to the detailing of a single bench.
As cities around the world continue to rethink their waterfronts in response to climate change, population growth and evolving patterns of recreation, Westboro Beachfront offers a valuable model. It shows that landscape architecture can strengthen cultural identity, restore ecological systems and create welcoming public spaces simultaneously. In doing so, the project establishes a benchmark for integrated waterfront redevelopment that is both locally rooted and internationally relevant.

Read more about the project here.