Sandalwood Market.

Located in north Brampton near five public transit routes, the Etobicoke Creek Trail and the Mubarak Mosque, Sandalwood Market serves a diverse and rapidly growing neighbourhood.

The project consists of three buildings carefully arranged along the site's perimeter and oriented both towards the street and each other. The layout defines a legible, human-scaled outdoor space — fostering a sense of place and encouraging social interaction, qualities too often absent in conventional auto-oriented plazas.

Long-term durability and sustainability were central to the project's design approach. Despite a constrained construction budget, the buildings were designed with robust materials, careful detailing, and efficient systems intended to support long-term performance. A ground-source geothermal system provides heating and cooling for all three buildings, reducing operational energy use by 68%. Solar-ready rooftops, reduced paving and permeable surfaces, stormwater retention measures, native planting and green infrastructure further support the project's environmental goals.

The project demonstrates how suburban commercial developments can evolve into more connected, environmentally responsible, and community-oriented public spaces.