Daniels Faculty Alumnus Graeme Stewart (M Arch 2007) published an article as part of the Toronto Star's "Big Ideas" series, which is inviting Torontonians to share their ideas to transform Toronto.

"What if our suburbs are our future?" writes Stewart. "What if the communities of Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke are the Toronto Region's greatest urban asset, holding the key to achieving the sustainable, resilient and connected community we demand today?"

Stewart's idea grew out of work he did as a student at the Daniels Faculty. His masters thesis project formed the basis of what would later become Toronto's Tower Renewal program, which he continues work on as an Associate at ERA Architects. The Tower Renewal project focuses on the city's many post-war residential high-rise neighbourhoods, which Stewarts argues have the potential to be transformed into "vibrant and walkable mixed-use hubs, with new institutions, social amenities, mixed housing, green infrastructures and connections to enable a healthy, sustainable and resilient Toronto at the local and regional scale."

"Taking advantage of this great opportunity will require innovative planning, architecture and financing," writes Stewart. In 2009, he joined other researchers at the Daniels Faculty, including Professor Ted Kesik and Lecturer Ivan Saleff in publishing Tower Renewal Guidelines for the retrofit of multi-unit residential buildings in cold climates.

For more on the City of Toronto's Tower Renewal program, visit the City of Toronto's website or ERA Architects.

Do you have a Big Idea for the Toronto Star's series? Visit the Star's website to submit your idea.