In memoriam: Gregory H. Woods, OAA, MRAIC, NCARB

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Greg Woods. Greg was a beloved friend, colleague, mentor and professor. He was an avid champion of great architecture and chose a path that inspired many.

Always brilliantly creative, he challenged those around him to do things differently and take the road less travelled. Greg advocated a playful discovery process in design, which endeared him to clients, colleagues and students.

Greg was an award-winning architect with project experience in Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. He enjoyed a tremendous architectural career, most notably connected to the Sharp Centre of Design, as lead project architect with Alsop Architects, for the Ontario College of Art and Design University. Recently, as a consultant to ZAS Architects in Toronto, Greg was the design-lead for the future home of The Lassonde School of Engineering at York University.

Greg dedicated many hours teaching young people design and art history as a part-time faculty member at the Ryerson School of Interior Design. He was also a guest lecturer and critic at various schools in Canada and internationally, including OCADU, York U, U of T and The Bartlett at UCL.

Greg was a graduate of Ryerson University and the Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning at University College London; he practised with Architectonics, Robbie Sane, Robbie / Young and Wright, Alsop, Alsop at RMJM.

Most recently, Greg acted as a design consultant to ZAS and ZAS/Taylor Smyth. He was principal in the firm Gregory Woods Associates.

Greg’s family will be releasing their own statement, shortly, with details of a planned, family service. There will be a public memorial celebrating the architectural and academic life of Gregory for friends, colleagues and the professional and artistic community at a later date.