​​​Award-winning Canadian firm gh3* in partnership with landscape architecture company Mandaworks selected through extensive community engagement to lead redesign of downtown squares 

BRAMPTON, ON (August 26, 2025) – The City of Brampton has selected a transformative design concept led by Canadian architecture firm, gh3* in partnership with international landscape architecture company, Mandaworks for the redevelopment of Ken Whillans and Garden Squares. ​

Details of the winning design concept

Reflecting feedback from residents, downtown Brampton businesses and community stakeholders, the vision for the redevelopment of the squares informed the design parameters. The successful concept, titled The Flower Squares, reimagines the two civic spaces as unified yet distinct destinations inspired by Brampton’s floral heritage. The design achieves this through expressive landscaping, sculptural architecture and symbolic motifs that support everyday use, public gatherings and cultural programming. 

Ken Whillans Square

Located in front of Brampton City Hall, Ken Whillans Square will become a ceremonial and event space adjacent to Gage Park, featuring the Shimmer Stage, an integrated digital screen and lush berms designed to preserve mature trees and define an informal amphitheatre. ​

 Bird’s-eye view conceptual rendering of Ken Whillans Square redevelopment (subject to refinement). Credit: gh3* and Mandaworks

Garden Square

Garden Square will remain a vibrant urban hub, redefined by the Rosette Ring, a suspended LED screen forming a new civic landmark and an updated amphitheatre terrace that connects to The Rose, a premier performing arts venue in Brampton.

 ​Bird’s-eye view conceptual rendering of Garden Square redevelopment (subject to refinement). Credit: gh3* and Mandaworks

Both spaces are designed for flexibility and year-round use, with infrastructure to support public art, markets and community events. The design emphasizes accessibility, climate resilience and sensory engagement through lighting, planting and celebratory infrastructure to express joy and seasonal change.

Design selection process for the redevelopment of Ken Whillans and Garden Squares

The City of Brampton held a two-phase international design competition to select a multidisciplinary team for the redevelopment of Ken Whillans and Garden Squares. The competition was conducted in alignment with Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) guidelines for competitions, which promote fairness, transparency and best value for money through open competition, innovation and quality outcomes.

Public and stakeholder engagement, including with residents and downtown Brampton businesses, was a key part of the Ken Whillans and Garden Squares redevelopment design competition. Feedback from the community during the first phase of public engagement helped identify the types of amenities residents and stakeholders want included in the redevelopment. This public input, along with recommendations from a Technical Steering Committee, directly shaped the design vision and objectives. During the second phase of public engagement, the City hosted an open house attended by more than 100 residents, businesses and community stakeholders to showcase the shortlisted design concepts. The community was also invited to share feedback through an online survey, which received more than 200 responses. This input was one of the evaluation criteria used in selecting the winning team.

Next steps

With the design concept now selected, construction on Ken Whillans Square is expected to begin this fall.

Next steps for the Garden Square redevelopment will be determined as the City rolls out multiple downtown projects, with construction planned in stages to minimize impacts on the area and programming.

Downtown Brampton Revitalization

Downtown Brampton is undergoing a major transformation with several bold projects underway. in addition to the redevelopment of Ken Whillans and Garden Squares. They include Main and Queen Streets Streetscaping and the demolition of City-Owned properties 30-60 Main Street North and Interim Strategy for Expansion of Garden Square. The City is investing in vibrant, inclusive public spaces that reflect its identity and meet the needs of a growing, diverse community. As downtown Brampton evolves, it is rapidly becoming a thriving ecosystem for innovation and technology, positioning the city to compete on a global stage and helping to drive economic growth locally, provincially and nationally.

Stay Connected

Throughout the process, the City will continue working alongside the community and provide regular updates to help residents and businesses remain informed and involved as the downtown transformation takes shape. To learn more about the exciting projects underway, visit brampton.ca/downtown and explore the interactive construction map for real-time updates on project locations, scope of work, timelines and more. To ask questions or provide feedback, contact downtown@brampton.ca​.

Open during construction: support local downtown businesses

The City is working closely with the Downtown Brampton BIA and local businesses to minimize disruption and maintain access throughout construction. Downtown businesses remain open throughout construction, and residents and visitors are encouraged to continue shopping, dining and attending events in the area. Supporting local businesses helps sustain jobs, strengthens the local economy and keeps Brampton’s downtown vibrant and resilient through this period of transformation. To discover upcoming events and explore the unique shopping and dining experiences in downtown Brampton, visit the Downtown Brampton BIA website​.

Quotes

“These bold and creative redesigns deliver exactly what our residents, downtown businesses and community stakeholders have asked for. These two newly reimagined squares in our downtown will become vibrant, inclusive public spaces that bring people together and celebrate Brampton’s unique identity. The voices of our community were front and centre in this process, and their feedback helped shape a design that is as meaningful as it is exciting. I want to thank all the firms for their proposals and everyone who shared their feedback. Your invaluable input helped shape a space that will bring people together and strengthen our downtown for years to come. We look forward to working with gh3* and Mandaworks to bring this exciting vision to life.” - Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton