TORONTO, Feb. 4 /CNW/ - The City of Toronto has officially launched AUDA 2005 - this year's Architecture and Urban Design Awards competition. Mayor David Miller will host the awards ceremony at an inaugural AUDA Gala on May 16th in the Art Gallery of Ontario. The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1...

Urban design and architectural excellence play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in Toronto. Held every other year, AUDA helps promote and recognize public and private awareness of that role. AUDA 2005 is the 4th awards competition since the City amalgamated in 1998.

Nominations will be accepted in six categories and will be judged by an independent jury that includes:

• John Bentley Mays Architecture Critic: Toronto Globe & Mail
• Claude Cormier Landscape Architect: Claude Cormier Architectes Paysagistes Inc., Montreal
• Glen Murray Urban Public Policy Consultant: The Murray Group Former Mayor of Winnipeg
• Brigitte Shim Professor of Architecture, University of TorontoPartner: Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, Inc.

The award categories are: Buildings in Context; Elements; Small Open Spaces; Large Places or Neighbourhood Designs; Visions and Master Plans; and Student Awards.

This year's awards program and gala are being organized by the City of Toronto in conjunction with the Toronto Society of Architects, the Ontario Association of Architects, the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects and the Toronto Board of Trade. The City also has been working with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada to establish National Urban Design Awards, and looks forward to participating in this new program in 2006.

Official AUDA entry forms are available at Access Toronto public information counters in City Hall and each civic centre, at UDS Customer Service counters across the city and on the City of Toronto's Web site at: www.toronto.ca/auda

Visit our Web site at www.toronto.ca

For further information: Media contact: Robert J. Freedman, Director of Urban Design, Urban Development Services, (416) 392-1126