Diamond Schmitt Architects returns to Doors Open Toronto presented by Great Gulf (May 23-24) with two afternoons (1-5 p.m.) of presentations on current projects in Toronto, across Canada and abroad. There will also be models and renderings on display as well as preview screenings of a documentary about a new opera house in Russia designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects.
Visitors will learn about projects in development, newly opened or soon-to-open buildings, including the innovative University of Toronto Scarborough Environmental Science and Chemistry Building and the transformation of a 19th-century textile factory to become Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in St. Catharines. Both facilities open this summer.
Other projects to be featured in the popular back-to-back 30-minute presentations by architects include a culinary arts school and residence under construction at Centennial College; Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver; and Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts & Sciences in Texas. For this year’s Doors Open Toronto theme of sports and recreation, the design approach for University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre – the venue for archery at the Pan Am Games – and the new Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Nova Scotia will be explored.
Jack Diamond will lead a public discussion on what Toronto needs to succeed on Sunday. Jennifer Mallard will present new ways of incorporating urban garden space in buildings and Michael Leckman will talk about Toronto’s explosive growth in vertical living. In advance of this autumn’s exhibition and conference of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators in Toronto, Jon Soules will make the case for the enduring role of watercolour as a medium in the digital age.
A preview screening of The Maestro & The Master: Building the New Mariinsky will be introduced by the film’s director Yosif Feyginberg on Saturday at 1 p.m., with repeat screenings on the hour on both afternoons. The documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the new opera house in St. Petersburg, Russia. The film has its broadcast premiere on TVO on Thursday June 18 at 9 p.m.
Says Donald Schmitt, principal with Diamond Schmitt Architects,“We’re happy to be part of Toronto’s architecture festival for the sixth consecutive year and welcome the public to come and meet our architects and learn about our design practice.” It all takes place at the company’s office located at 384 Adelaide St. W. (just east of Spadina Avenue.). The event is free and wheelchair accessible.
SATURDAY, MAY 23
• 1 p.m. Screening of The Maestro & The Master: Building the New Mariinsky
• 2 p.m. Centennial College Residence and Culinary Arts building with Branka Gazibara
• 2:30 p.m. Emily Carr University of Art + Design with Martin Davidson
• 3 p.m. University of Toronto Scarborough Environmental Science and Chemistry Building with Nigel Tai
• 3:30 p.m. Brock Marilyn I. Walker School of Performing Arts with Joe Troppmann
• 4 p.m. Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre with Jarle Lovlin
• 4:30 p.m. Buddy Holly Hall with Mathew Lella Sunday
SUNDAY, MAY 24
• 1:30 p.m. Jack Diamond leads a discussion on city building
• 2 p.m. Varsity Centre with Duncan Higgins
• 2:30 p.m. Community Building through Urban Agriculture with Jennifer Mallard and Heela Omarkhail
• 3 p.m. Architectural illustration in the digital age with Jon Soules
• 3:30 p.m. Designing for healthcare with Huda Juma
• 4 p.m. Sustainable building design: Discoveries at net zero with Michael Leckman
• 4:30 p.m. Creative City Toronto: Next generation urban environments with Michael Leckman
For more info about the firm, visit http://www.dsai.ca/