STACKT builds vibrant ecosystems where community, retail, art, and hospitality intersect, fostering powerful connections between commerce and community. As a dedicated platform for small businesses, STACKTˣ accelerates growth by bridging the gap in the often-daunting first step of launching retail ventures. By providing free access to mentorship, digital tools, partnerships, and retail opportunities, STACKTˣ drives business success while enhancing community integration.
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Gold 🏆 Winner
Urban Design & Architecture Design Awards 2025
STACKTˣ Ottawa Pop Up Storefront and Public Space
Pop-Ups Design (Built)
Firm
DS Studio Inc / STACKTˣ
Architect/Designer
Dina Sarhane
Design Team
Matt Rubinoff, Jessica Lynch, Dina Sarhane, Hannah O’Donovan, , Chaya Bhardwaj, Eric Ballance
Location
Byward Market, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Country
Canada
Photographer/Copyright
©Riley Snelling
In 2023, STACKTˣ launched at STACKT’s flagship location in Toronto, STACKT Market, with a focus on empowering small businesses and helping them establish a strong presence in the retail sector. At the heart of STACKTˣ’s mission is its Accelerator Program, featuring the Storefront Grant, which awards 12 small businesses annually with a free one-month pop-up storefront. This initiative alleviates the financial strain of expensive commercial leases, offering entrepreneurs valuable exposure and resources. Through the program, businesses gain not only retail space but also access to mentorship, digital tools, and marketing opportunities, all designed to support their growth and development.
In 2024, STACKTˣ expanded its reach to Ottawa with a new satellite location, and further expansion is planned across Canada in 2025. STACKTˣ Ottawa exemplifies adaptive urban revitalization, repurposing a previously underutilized service lot in the iconic ByWard Market into a dynamic retail hub. The two-storey pop-up storefront, designed by DS Studio, utilizes modular shipping containers sourced from Ballance to create a flexible, sustainable space. The 160-square-foot structure features a glass façade at street level, showcasing products to passersby, while open public spaces like exterior decks with seating, lighting, and plants encourage community interaction. The design’s modular elements and movable furniture ensure functionality and adaptability, offering businesses a turnkey retail space that can evolve with their needs.
Sustainability is a cornerstone of STACKTˣ Ottawa’s design. The modular, low-impact approach minimizes construction waste, and passive strategies such as natural shading help reduce energy consumption. By revitalizing underused urban spaces instead of expanding outward, STACKTˣ promotes density and ecological responsibility, setting an example for future developments that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Since its opening in June 2024, STACKTˣ Ottawa has drawn more than 600 local small business members. Seven grant recipients have successfully launched pop-up spaces, directly engaging with new customers, increasing brand visibility, and growing their reach. Through free pop-up spaces and targeted marketing initiatives, STACKTˣ empowers entrepreneurs to test ideas, gather feedback, and refine strategies with minimal risk. Community-driven events amplify their stories, generating excitement and engagement.
STACKTˣ is more than a platform for small business growth—it is a catalyst for community revitalization. By creating spaces where commerce and community thrive together, STACKTˣ transforms urban environments, fostering economic vitality and enriching the local culture. With its focus on sustainability, innovation, and community integration, STACKTˣ sets a new standard for urban development and small business support across Canada.