The Market Square

The Market Square connects the agricultural ethic with local arts and culture. This civic space will be an important link between the agricultural activities on the land and the vibrancy of everyday life in Tsawwassen.

A centre of life and culture for both for a Southlands neighbourhood and the larger community of Tsawwassen, the Market Square will become a focal point for South Delta. The Market Square will be a community gathering place for arts and education, a Farmers’ Market, small-scale neighbourhood retail and Live-Work residences that are part of the larger Housing & Workspaces plan for Southlands.

As part of an adjacent Agricultural Precinct on Southlands, the Market Square is also a place where residents can financially and socially support Southlands agricultural activities. This includes value-added agricultural retail activities intended to supplement the existing Tsawwassen town centre, and not detract from it as the main centre of commerce. By providing limited retail opportunities, basic goods are available within walking distance - and those strolling from Upper Tsawwassen to Boundary Bay can enjoy a coffee or meal along the way.

'New Urbanism', or traditional neighbourhood design theory, demands that important civic buildings be carefully designed and sited for larger communities. Such civic buildings serve both as architectural landmarks that inspire the character of private buildings, but also elevate the importance of the public space in our society - as the town hall, the post office or the fire station once did. The Market Square proposes three buildings that would frame the square; the Tsawwassen Centre for Arts & Culture, Kwantlen’s BC Centre for Urban Agriculture, and a Southlands Farmers’ Market - all modestly-scaled buildings that together will define the character of this civic space and the adjacent neighbourhood.

As a focal point for Southlands, movement through and within Southlands will naturally intersect in the Market Square. Here a Mobility Hub concept is proposed where the pedestrian focus of Southlands can meet up with transportation options such as transit.

Our intent is to create a place so full of life that you won’t mind missing the bus.