At a ceremony this past November in Toronto, the Design Exchange hosted its 20th annual national awards. The DXAs were presented in seven categories: architecture, fashion, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design and visual communications.
The interior design category is divided into three subcategories: Commercial, Residential, and Temporary & Portable.
In the Commerical category, seven projects were recognized, including two that won Gold. The first is the sensational Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme (Montreal), by Menkès Shooner Deganais Letourneau Architectes, in consortium with Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes. The challenge was to bring Place des Arts de Montreal – Quebec’s largest cultural complex, dating back to 1972 – into the 21st century. Along with the renovation of existing spaces, this project involved adding a new exhibit hall, animation and service spaces, a glass canopy, access to the esplanade, a multimedia zone and an advanced outdoor lighting system. The second is Corus Quay (Toronto), by Quadrangle Architects. This new HQ for Corus Entertainment, on Toronto’s waterfront, injects serious fun into the workplace, while consolidating 1,200 employees and 70+ brands in television, radio, online and paper publishing. A giant slide spiralling through the atrium has become a symbol of Corus’s playfulness.
The five other Commerical winners are Aria Ristorante (Toronto), by Urszula Tokarska/Stephen R. Pile Architect (Silver); Centre for Native Family & Child Well Being (Toronto), by Dean Goodman, Levitt Goodman Architects (Silver); 358 Talbot Office Renovation (London, Ont.), by Nicholson Sheffield Architects (Bronze); and Evergreen Brick Works: Office Space Planning and Design (Toronto), by Dialog Ontario (Bronze).
Two Residential projects were recognized: Cypress Residence (Vancouver), by BattersbyHowat Architects (Silver); and Contrast House (Toronto), by Dubbeldam Design Architects (Bronze).
Two Temporary & Portable projects were also recognized: Trinity Bellwoods Town + Homes (Toronto), by Cecconi Simone (Silver); and Exhibit Residences Presentation Lounge (Toronto), by Burdifilek (Bronze).
Winners in all categories – totalling 50 – are featured at a major DX exhibition through Feb. 26. To view a full list of award recipients, visit dx.org.