This is an urban design project, rebuilding the waterfront at the original landing place where Halifax began in 1749. The re-establishment of the fine-grained pier building fabric creates microclimates and public gathering places, contrasting the current trend of object buildings recently constructed downtown and course-grained fabric, typically surrounded by wasteland.

The site is at the crossing of the historic George Street ceremonial axis, a central public gathering place since the founding of Halifax connecting the Citadel, the town clock, City Hall, St. Paul’s Church, Province House and the harbour, and intersecting the recently established continuous public boardwalk running along the harbour. This scheme forms three public spaces: one along the George Street corridor, one along the Prince Street corridor, and the sacred central court. These places along with the project’s mixed uses (office, retail, food and beverage, boutique hotel, and residential) supports the revival of the center of the city’s waterfront as a vital public gathering place.

The materials correspond to the sandstone institutional precinct adjacent. A 350’ long floating sandstone bar, references the city grid, is supported by a series of copper clad pier buildings. These ‘boats’ run east to west intersecting with the public boardwalk stretching from north to south. A series of pedestrian passages are squeezed beneath the stone bar and between the pier buildings connecting the city to the waterfront. This porosity and the consistent public ground treatment unifies Queen’s Marque to be a publicly accessible waterfront district.