1. OVERVIEW

1.1. Introduction

This document defines the scope and establishes the framework and overall approach for the New City Hall City Square Plaza and Civic Esplanade Project. (CHSP) This charter includes a rationale for the project, an overview of project goals, objectives, defines the project scope, and provides an assessment of risk. This document also provides an overview of the implementation strategy and deliverables, describes the project team structure, outlines roles and responsibilities, and defines the project environment.

The contents of this document must be reviewed and signed by the Project Executive Committee and Project Administrators to ensure all parties have a clear understanding of the goals of the implementation. The Charter allows all project participants to work towards a common goal and clarify expectations while becoming the standard against which changes to project scope and duration are identified and evaluated.

1.2. High Level Objective

This project is being undertaken in order to provide conceptual designs of the Civic Esplanade (Refer to Appendix A) as well as design and construct a new public open space as part of the Civic Square. (refer to Appendix B) The former 350 City Hall building has been removed and the vision for the new Civic Square includes a new plaza. The objective of the project is to construct an inviting, flexible, multi-use, context sensitive outdoor space that balances the needs of City Hall and the public. The new space will connect 350 City Hall physically and visually to the Civic Esplanade and reinforce the objectives in the Windsor Civic Square Urban Design Study Masterplan and Design Guidelines and the Windsor City Centre Revitalization and Design Study.

The City Hall Square Plaza is the southern anchor of the Civic Esplanade and the design and programming of the new plaza will affect the existing conditions of the Civic Esplanade. For that reason, the Civic Esplanade will be reviewed and conceptual design will be adopted to update the vision for the Civic Esplanade and to set priorities moving forward.

1.3. Goals, Objectives and Critical Success Factors

This project will be a cultural and community asset once complete. The project will be considered successful by the degree in which the conditions of the project are met. It should be noted and understood that these conditions rely on the assumption that sufficient resources and funding are assigned to the project.

The project goals are to:

• Provide a functional, flexible and programmable outdoor space for public use;

• Create outdoor space for civic ceremonies and announcements;

• Incorporate the heritage, cultural and context of the existing plaza and esplanade;

• Increase accessibility and use of the Civic Square and Esplanade;

• Increase the connectivity and cultural footprint that the Civic Square has on the core of the city.

• Provide “green/sustainable” features integrated into the design, as well as solutions which provide for climate mitigation or adaptation opportunities;