The City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada has selected architects gh3*, in partnership with landscape architecture studio Mandaworks, to lead the redevelopment of Ken Whillans Square and Garden Square. Their winning design celebrates Bramptonʼs “Flower Cityˮ legacy with a bold, unified floral motif and delivers imaginative, community-focused public spaces that blend art, function, and civic identity.
Bramptonʼs new “Flower Squaresˮ energize the cityʼs core, creating a vibrant, connected, and community-focused destination. Designed to host both major civic events and the rhythms of daily life, the project delivers iconic public spaces that celebrate Bramptonʼs past while driving its future.
The design builds on Bramptonʼs identity as the “Flower City,ˮ a title earned through its history as home to the Dale Estate—once the largest cut-flower producer in North America. This legacy takes shape in the bold granite paving that defines Ken Whillans Square and Garden Square. Inspired by the geometry of a rose, the pattern radiates outward like petals from a central bud, directing movement, arranging seating, and framing planting beds to unify the squares as a cohesive whole.
The floral metaphor rises into the built form. In Ken Whillans Square, the Shimmer Stage unfolds like petals, acting as both a sculptural landmark and a flexible performance platform. Shaded seating, a central water feature, and green berms that protect mature trees transform the square into a civic park ready for ceremonies, festivals, and informal gatherings. Reflective stage surfaces capture activity and celebration, turning the square into a living backdrop for city life.
Garden Square amplifies its role as Bramptonʼs cultural living room. The Rosette Ring, an immersive 360° LED screen, anchors the space and establishes a new landmark for performance, media, and everyday use. The Ring frames the Rose Theatre, strengthening the bond between building and square, and activates an environment where digital art, live screenings, and cultural events thrive.
Together, the two squares weave a connected civic framework that fuses tradition with innovation. Designed for flexibility and inclusion, they support everything from quiet moments to large-scale festivals, markets, and civic ceremonies. The result is a downtown public realm that feels unmistakably Brampton yet open to the world—an enduring cultural heart where symbolism becomes structure, infrastructure, and atmosphere.
Ken Whillans Square and Garden Square
Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Design team: gh3*, Mandaworks
Client: City of Brampton
Images Credit: gh3*, Mandaworks