Urban Design Project Input and Expert Witness Services

Mark Sterling and Acronym provide professional Urban Design input on a variety of projects – working closely with owners and developers and their design teams to create appropriate design responses to urban city building challenges. Mark and Acronym also provide expert witness support to such projects where necessary before the Ontario Municipal Board and in other processes such as lease arbitrations.

In urban design assignments, Acronym uses the tools of integrated design thinking to clarify value systems, bridge disciplines, open new possibilities, and generate rapid innovation. Our interdisciplinary design and planning approach incorporates flexibility and adaptation; delivering realistic solutions. Our goal is to develop deeper, richer, more sustainable models of value.

Mark Sterling is known for his innovative approaches to large scale planning projects, incorporating change over time as opposed to fixed master planning.

Urban design work in Toronto, such as the Old Town of York, King West, Lawrence Heights, West Don Lands, and in municipalities such as Saskatoon, Markham, Newmarket, Hamilton and Mississauga, focuses on recommendations regarding connections, programming, and urban renewal. Mark has experience with historic districts such as King Parliament and King Spadina in Toronto, W. Ross Macdonald School campus plan in Brantford, and over a dozen heritage and historic projects that have achieved healthy, sustainable and economic viability.

Mark has also worked closely with many of Toronto’s best architects and developers – successfully assisting in the design and approvals processes associated with complex infill projects in intensification areas.

Mark is well known, and has been qualified on numerous occasions, as an expert in Architecture, Urban Design and Land Use Planning before the Ontario Municipal Board. He has participated in over 40 OMB hearings providing testimony on behalf of a wide variety of both private and public sector clients, as well as local residents and residents associations.

This experience positions Acronym to become strong advocates for issues facing cities across the country. Mark has participated in expert panels related to place making, mid-rise urbanism, transit-oriented development, economic development, community revitalization, business improvement areas and social housing. Research and collaboration with national experts enables us to bring substantial value to our clients.