Winnipeg Free Press

Some of the coolest and most creative plans to revamp Winnipeg are born in a frenzied, cluttered mess of studios in the University of Manitoba's architecture building. You've probably never heard of these plans, and you've probably shrugged off some of the ugly buildings, wacky intersections, and forsaken spaces students want to transform. How about levelling Confusion Corner and rebuilding it as a funky neighbourhood with an IKEA? How about a world-class aquatic recreation centre on the floodway? What if the grungy, leaky, scary pedestrian tunnels under City Hall became a vibrant walkway connecting far-flung parts of the Exchange District? While other cities have invested millions in beautiful, sometimes radical architecture, Winnipeg has lagged behind. But there are signs it might be catching up, according to David Witty, dean of the architecture faculty. The glassy Millennium Library, the Esplanade Riel and the burgeoning debate over what kind of suburb should be built in Waverley West has turned people's attention to good design, arguably for the first time since the turn of the last century. The U of M's would-be architects are quietly nudging that shift. The Free Press has chosen some of their most