Longridge Partners launches design competition that will re-think mixed-use space

The Melville Park Design Competition is presented by real estate investment firm Longridge Partners, with a mission to invest in good nature and connect people to the outdoors.

The competition will focus on Melville Park, a large and varied property owned by Longridge in Caledon, Ontario, and are looking for innovative landscape design and business concepts that align with Longridge’s core values.

The goal is to reimagine the use of Melville Park’s current mixed-use space and develop a creative design that would best fit the land.

Melville Park is governed by the Town of Caledon’s Official Plan, supporting low-intensity recreation and tourism uses on rural land. Areas that are environmentally sensitive must be protected.

The policies of the Greenbelt Plan and regional and local Official Plans support golf courses and bed and breakfast establishments on the subject lands. Other uses such as resorts or tourism-based accommodations are also permitted.

The competition invites participants to submit landscape designs and business development plans that propose creative uses for Melville Park. Entries must be original and can focus on ideas that align with Longridge Partners’ values while also being profitable, some things to consider include economic feasibility, innovation and public access.

The property has been approved for a 27-hole golf course design and accessory use stay-and-play cottages. Doug Carrick, a world-renowned landscape architect celebrated for his outstanding golf course designs, has created a 27-hole golf course, club, and cottage layout for this property.

Teams are free to determine the format and organization of their submission.

This competition is open to any students who would like to participate. Submissions can be submitted as a team or individual, with no limit on the number of participants.

Relevant fields include architecture, business development, landscape architecture and environmental design, real estate and urban planning.

Submissions will be reviewed and five short-list finalists selected. Finalists will present their submissions to a judging panel, followed by a Q&A session at a Longridge property in Caledon, ON.

The submission deadline is March 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. Short-list finalists will be notified in mid-April, and live presentations will take place in ealry May. The exact dates will be announced at a later time.

For more information and to enter, click here.