Ian Dance

The City of Hamilton’s waterfront redevelopment positions the community to meet its cultural and recreational goals of the growing city. Over the last three decades, investments helped to transform this area into a highly desirable public space for people to live, work, and play. The redevelopment of the City’s Pier 7 shoreline represents another key project that continues the revitalization of the extensive waterfront lands.

The Thames plays a central role in defining the social, cultural, civic and economic possibilities for London’s residents, workers and visitors. The City is experiencing a confluence of planning opportunities that will catalyze transformational changes in the fabric of London, making this the most opportune time to come Back to the River. In partnership with Stoss, Dillon was a design finalist for the community mobilization initiative to revitalize a 5km stretch of the river. Given the sensitivity of the river environment, and the challenges of flood mitigation, we proposed a strategy to build on the characteristics of existing natural and social environments.

Dillon was retained by the project architects to prepare the landscape strategy, detailed design and landscape construction drawings for the grounds of this boutique hotel on the site of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. The concept for the project envisioned the hotel and restaurants in a garden park setting, integrated with the Direct Energy Centre and the Allstream Centre. The main public plaza provides for large events tied to the CNE while the south garden creates a series of gardens, private gathering areas, and other amenities for hotel guests. The public realm contributes to the formal promenade of the Exhibition lands and creates a tree-lined allée with shaded pedestrian urban spaces. 

Lake Wilcox Park is 5.48 hectares of exceptional waterfront parkland reflective of the area’s cultural, historical, and environmental heritage. Nestled along the eastern shores of Lake Wilcox, within the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Park’s design is founded on principles of an ecologically driven approach that balances recreational parkland with built facilities and an accessible and connected waterfront. An extensive consultation process with the public and Indigenous communities confirmed an integrated design approach and inspired the detailed design of the park. As a result, the natural and cultural history of the site is celebrated via symbolic detailed design forms, materials, and public art intricately woven throughout the landscape.

The Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway is the roadway component of the Detroit River’sNew International Trade Crossing. Federal, provincial and state governments in the United States and Canada partnered to find a solution that provides safe, efficient and secure movement of people and goods across the border. The project, previously called the Windsor Essex Parkway, has an anticipated capital cost of $1.6B (CDN) is being delivered as an Alternative Finance Procurement (AFP). Once complete the new parkway will provide uninterrupted traffic flow. This is the most significant highway investment being made in Ontario.