2.6K 
Hariri Pontarini Architects has, over the years, picked up quite a slew of awards, having been recognized in over 60 awards programs. The Toronto-based firm is well known for their signature clean but warmly detailed modernism, practised in a number of landmark private residences, office buidings, art galleries, and over the last several years condominums across Southern Ontario and far beyond. UrbanToronto readers will recognize the firm from the stories put up on their work-in-progress on a regular basis.
One condo design of theirs in particular that UrbanToronto has been following through its construction is on a bit of a roll right now; HPA was recently was part of the team that took home the BILD Project of the Year—High-Rise, and the OHBA Project of the Year—High- or Mid-Rise, for Lindvest Properties' B.streets Condos. Meanwhile, several Hariri Pontarini-designed truly high-rise projects along Yonge Street are highly anticipated by UrbanToronto readers currently. Great Gulf's One Bloor East is now under construction and heading for street level before it climbs to its ultimate height of 75 storeys, while a few blocks away MOD and Greywood's Five St. Joseph, a past BILD Project of the Year—High-Rise winner, is at ground level and heading for 48 storeys. A stir was caused on UrbanToronto recently when another MOD and HPA project, The Massey Tower, looked like it might not get City Approval, while at the base of Yonge HPA is designing a landmark 6-tower proposal for Pinnacle International.
Hariri Pontarini's work has also included the highly-regarded McKinsey & Company office on the Victoria College campus at the U of T, the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie, and a recent refurbishment and updating of the Art Deco Bloor Hot Docs Cinema amongst many others. The firm's Jackman Law Building at the U of T and a boutique office condominium at 7 St. Thomas Street are amongst anticipated projects in Toronto's Bloor-Yorkville area.
Hariri Pontarini's body of work has now won the firm Canada's most prestigious acknowledgement for work in their field, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Architectural Firm Award for 2013. The RAIC award recognizes a Canadian architectural firm or practice that “has consistently produced distinguished architecture” and “has achieved high standards in the quality of its architecture, its service to its clients, its innovations in practice, contributions to architectural education and to professional institutions and associations, and public recognition.”
"It is a great honour to receive this award", said Partner Siamak Hariri. "To be recognized in such esteemed company, and, to be chosen by our distinguished peers on the jury. This award is a testament to our clients and the success of our collaborations throughout the years." Practice Partner, David Pontarini added: "The award is especially timely because it acknowledges past works but also credits research and education at a juncture when the firm's philosophies concerning cities and especially sustainable growth are beginning to be realized in built form. We’d like to thank the awarding committee for recognising the efforts and accomplishments of our team to date." As one of the youngest practices to win the award, Hariri Pontarini Architects joins a lineage of renowned firms that have made significant contributions to promoting the profession through practice and education.
The 2013 jury was made up of: Peter Cardew, MRAIC (2012 Gold Medal Recipient), Anne Cormier, Ric Haldenby, FRAIC, Barry Johns, FRAIC, Marianne McKenna, FRAIC, Lola Sheppard, MRAIC, and Yves Gosselin, PP/FIRAC as professional advisor. The jury commented: “Hariri Pontarini Architects' work is noteworthy and significant in the rigour, balance, and utter refinement of form, materials and detail control and in the utmost precision in execution, evidenced in all their projects. The jury particularly appreciated the range of work—from high‐rise housing to public buildings—all demonstrating responsiveness to site, program and tectonics.”
Projects to be completed in the near future include the international competition‐winning Richard Ivey School of Business (opening in 2013), One Bloor (due for completion in 2016) and the internationally acclaimed Bahá'í Temple of South America in Santiago (earmarked for completion in 2015).
More can be learned about the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and this award from their website, as can Hariri Pontarini and their extensive list of awards on their website. A full list of active Hariri Pontarini projects that UrbanToronto has dataBase pages for follows below. Feel free to explore the links; Forum thread links will allow you to join the conversation on specific projects, or leave a comment here to discuss the award.
