The annual Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Celebration of Excellence Awards on Fri., May 9, showcased the best in architectural design and innovation by Ontario architects. Fifteen new buildings in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Bracebridge, Hamilton, Brampton, Midhurst, and Halifax were distinguished in this year’s Design Excellence category.
The 2014 award-winning projects reflect their environment and surroundings and invite the local community in. “Increasingly it’s becoming important to have a seamless relationship between the interior and exterior of a structure,” says OAA President, Bill Birdsell. “A building should engage with its location and it should create spaces for end-users and members of the community to enjoy.”
In addition to the 15 Design Excellence awards announced before the ceremony, three more honours were unveiled during the gala:
• Best of Show was awarded to Centennial College Library and Academic Facility by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated.
• The Michael V. and Wanda Plachta Award, honouring architectural excellence for projects in Ontario that cost no more than $8-million, was presented to G. Bruce Stratton Architects for Mount Dennis Library.
• The People’s Choice award, decided by public vote, went to Dubbeldam Architecture + Design for Through House.
“We are honoured to receive the OAA’s Best of Show Award,” says Donald Schmitt, principal of Diamond Schmitt Architects, who took home Best of Show for the design of the Centennial College Library and Academic Facility. “This project is designed to be a welcoming and versatile place to learn. The central atrium with its four-storey living wall creates that vital social hub where students and faculty can interact. The use of quality materials and detailing – granite and copper cladding on the exterior and custom wood screen panels and limestone stairs for the interior – convey a message that this institution respects students and their pursuit of knowledge. Daylighting is drawn deep inside from a sawtooth glazed facade that lends further distinction to this LEED Gold facility.”
The 2014 OAA awards were presented at the OAA Celebration of Excellence Awards and Dinner at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, on May 9. The gala was attended by the province’s top architects, building industry guests, clients of the winning projects and those with a passion for architecture. Etalk’s Ben Mulroney was the MC for the evening, and the awards were hosted by OAA president Bill Birdsell.
2014 OAA AWARDS: LIST OF WINNERS
Best of Show
Centennial College Library and Academic Facility
Toronto, ON
Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
Michael V. and Wanda Plachta Award
Mount Dennis Library
Toronto, ON
G. Bruce Stratton Architects
People’s Choice
Through House
Toronto, ON
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
Design Excellence
• Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence
Ottawa, ON
Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates Architects Inc.
• Bridgepoint Active Healthcare
Toronto, ON
Stantec Architecture Ltd., Architects / KPMB Architects
HDR Architecture Associates, Inc./ Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
• Centennial College Athletic and Wellness Centre
Toronto, ON
Kongats Architects
• Centennial College Library and Academic Facility
Toronto, ON
Diamond and Schmitt Architects Incorporated
• Chinguacousy Park Redevelopment
Brampton, ON
MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd.
• County of Simcoe Administration Centre
Midhurst, ON
Teeple Architects Inc. & Ted Handy & Associates Inc., Architect in joint venture
• Manitoba Hydro Place
Winnipeg, MB
KPMB Architects (Design Architect)
Smith Carter Architects & Engineers Incorporated (Executive Architect)
Prairie Architects Inc. (Advocate Architect)
• Moore Park Residence
Toronto, ON
Drew Mandel Architects
• Mount Dennis Library
Toronto, ON
G. Bruce Stratton Architects
• Nova Scotia Power (NSP) Corporate Headquarters
Halifax, NS
WZMH Architects
Fowler Bauld and Mitchell, Associate Architects
• Stealth Cabin
Bracebridge, ON
Superkül Inc., Architect
• Stoney Creek Recreation Centre
Hamilton, ON
Rounthwaite Dick & Hadley Architects Inc. with Lintack Architects Incorporated
• Through House
Toronto, ON
Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
• Tommy Thompson Park Pavilions
Toronto, ON
Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.
• Victoria Park Subway Station
Toronto, ON
IBI Group Architects
Brown and Storey Architects Inc.
Concepts
Semi [Detached]
• Batay-Csorba Architects
Jodi Batay-Csorba
Andrew Batay-Csorba
• Jiigew (by the water)
Prince Arthur’s Landing, Thunder Bay, ON
spmb & Brook Mcllroy Architects
• UnEarthed
Honourable Mention
Ken O. Lum
Sustainable Design Excellence Award
• Manitoba Hydro Place
Winnipeg, MB
KPMB Architects (Design Architect)
Smith Carter Architects & Engineers Incorporated (Executive Architect)
Prairie Architects Inc. (Advocate Architect)
Landmark Designation
• 50 Park Road
Toronto, ON
John B. Parkin Associates
(Now NORR Limited, Architects and Engineers)
• McMaster University Health Sciences Centre
Hamilton, ON
Zeidler Partnership Architects
• Wandich Cottage
Peterborough, ON
Strasman Architects Inc.
Best Emerging Practice
Atelier Kastelic Buffey Inc.
G. Randy Roberts Service Award
(Recognizing members of the OAA for extraordinary service to the members)
Susan Ruptash
Lifetime Design Achievement Award
(Honouring members for career-long contribution to Architectural Design Excellence)
Jerome Markson
Order of da Vinci
(Presented to persons who have made a significant and meaningful contribution to the profession of architecture)
Gordon Grice