An international contest is held to reimagine the future of the runway at Torontos disused Downsview Airport (Deadline: 22 November)The two-stage contest seeks proposal to transform the 2km-long airstrip into a new centrepiece for a planned future 150ha mixed-use neighbourhood dubbed YZD and set to be constructed on the site of the historic airport which closed for redevelopment earlier this year.The Runway at YZD competition invites cross-disciplinary design teams led by a landscape architect to holistic develop design guidelines for the runway which is earmarked to become a new pedestrian spine and public amenity for the surrounding development.The two-stage contest seeks proposal to transform the 2km-long airstrip into a new centrepiece for a planned future 150ha mixed-use neighbourhoodAccording to the contest announcement: The Runway at YZD is envisioned as an unparalleled outdoor experience a continuous, pedestrian-focused and publicly-accessible corridor that will become a destination, attracting people from across the globe to experience its creative public spaces and wide range of programming.Not only will the former airstrip connect the seven complete communities at YZD, but it will also be animated by community uses, public amenities, and recreation opportunities for the 55,000 residents and 23,000 workers that will eventually live and work at the site, plus many more who will visit it every year.Toronto is the most populous city in Canada with a population of 2.7 million residents. It is currently the sixth most expensive city for housing in the world and has the highest rate of homelessness of any Canadian settlement.The latest contest comes shortly after WilkinsonEyre won an international design competition for a new bridge in Toronto. The City of Toronto named Rotterdams West 8 as the winner of its international competition for a new downtown 2,600m public park in January.Planned to be developed over the next three decades the 150ha YZD project will create seven new mixed-use neighbourhoods on the site of the decommissioned Downsview Airport in the centre of Toronto.Planned to be developed over the next three decades the 150ha YZD project will create seven new mixed-use neighbourhoods on the site of the decommissioned Downsview Airport in the centre of TorontoThe latest contest focusses on creating a new pedestrian amenity on a former runway at the centre of the airport which was home to a test airstrip, a military base, and aerospace manufacturing facilities before being sold for redevelopment in 2018 and eventually closing earlier this year.Judges will include the urban designer, city-building advocate, and author Ken Greenberg alongside other yet-to-be-announced design, development and placemaking experts.Following an open call for expressions of interested, shortlisted teams will be invited to participate in a requests for proposals round. An overall winner for the commission to create design guidelines for the runway will be announced in the summer of 2025.How to applyDeadline: 22 NovemberCompetition funding source: Northcrest DevelopmentsProject funding source: Northcrest DevelopmentsOwner of site(s): PSP InvestmentsVisit the competition website for more information